Let-7a-5p inhibits triple-negative breast tumor growth and metastasis through GLUT12-mediated warburg effect

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known for its aggressive phenotype with limited treatment modalities and poor prognosis. The Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis) is a hallmark of cancer that serves as a promising target for diagnosis and therapy. However, how aerobic glycolysis regulates TNBC remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the glucose transporter (GLUT) family member GLUT12 promotes TNBC tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo through regulating aerobic glycolysis. MicroRNA let-7a-5p, a tumor suppressor, inhibited GLUT12 expression by targeting its 3′-untranslated region, and suppressed GLUT12-mediated TNBC tumor growth, metastasis, and glycolytic function, including alterations of glucose uptake, lactate production, ATP generation, extracellular acidification rate, and oxygen consumption rate. Inhibiting aerobic glycolysis abolished the ability of let-7a-5p and GLUT12 to regulate TNBC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In TNBC patients, GLUT12 was significantly upregulated, and let-7a-5p expression was inversely correlated with GLUT12 expression. High expression of let-7a-5p and GLUT12 predicted better and worse clinical outcomes, respectively. Taken together, our results indicate that the let-7a-5p/GLUT12 axis plays key roles in TNBC tumor growth and metastasis, and aerobic glycolysis, and is a potential target for TNBC treatment. •GLUT12 is a poor prognostic factor in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).•GLUT12 promotes TNBC tumor growth and metastasis through the Warburg effect.•Let-7a-5p inhibits GLUT12 expression by targeting its 3′-untranslated region.•Let-7a-5p blocks GLUT12 mediated-tumor growth, metastasis and glycolytic function.•Let-7a-5p expression inversely correlates with GLUT12 expression in TNBC patients.