FAD synthase confers ferroptosis resistance and restrains CD8+ T cell recruitment in hepatocellular carcinoma

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Vitamin B2 (VB2) metabolism regulates numerous cellular processes, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains unclear. Here we show that HCC tumors are characterized by upregulation of a VB2 metabolism signature, and VB2 metabolism promotes HCC progression. Among VB2 metabolic enzymes, flavin adenine dinucleotide synthase (FADS) is the only one that is widely overexpressed in human HCC. Elevated FADS expression correlates with resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy and poor prognosis. In vivo, FADS facilitates HCC cell growth and suppresses T cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals that FADS-induced changes occur both in the tumor cells and the intra-tumoral CD8+ T cells. Knocking down FADS induces HCC cell death and increases CD8⁺ T cell infiltration. Mechanistically, FADS confers ferroptosis resistance on HCC cells via enzymatic function to produce FAD and non-enzymatic function to stabilize PCBP2. Moreover, FADS impairs CD8+ T cell recruitment by disrupting the cGAS-STING pathway. Hesperidin, a clinically approved FADS inhibitor, shows antitumor efficacy in a mouse model. Our study thus highlights the importance of VB2 metabolism in HCC and provides the proof of principle for targeting FADS as a therapeutic strategy for HCC. Vitamin B2 metabolism is important for essential biological processes, such as protection against oxidative damage and facilitating the immune response. Here authors show that contrary to its protective role in other contexts, upregulated Vitamin B2 metabolism via flavin adenine dinucleotide synthase propels the growth of tumour cells in hepatocellular cancer, while suppressing the anti-tumour CD8+ T cell response.

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