Starving Key Amino Acids Slows Brain Tumor Growth in Mice: A Promising Discovery

A dangerous type of brain cancer called glioblastoma is known for its rapid growth. Recent research has shown that these tumors often grab serine, an important amino acid, from their environment instead of making it themselves. This discovery reveals a “metabolic weakness” that could be used to slow down the cancer’s spread.

In experiments, mice with glioblastomas were given a diet low in serine. The results were promising: the tumors grew more slowly, and the mice lived longer. Sheila Singh, a neurosurgeon at McMaster University, praised the research. She noted that targeting this metabolic vulnerability could lead to new treatment options.

Glioblastomas are particularly aggressive. They invade brain tissue swiftly and often regrow after treatment, which usually includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Sadly, the average person diagnosed with glioblastoma survives only 1 to 2 years.

These tumors are resource thieves, consuming sugars and other vital nutrients from their hosts. They use these resources to fuel their growth. Andrew Scott, a cancer neuroscientist at the University of Michigan, describes the cancer’s strategy as relentless.

To explore how glioblastomas utilize sugars, researchers conducted a study involving eight patients. During surgeries to remove their tumors, they infused the participants with sugar molecules labeled with a specific carbon isotope. By studying the tumors afterward, they found that glioblastomas could use the surrounding sugars to create essential components for DNA, which promotes their rapid growth.

This research highlights a key area of exploration: how understanding the metabolic needs of cancer can lead to breakthroughs in treatment. As glioblastomas continue to pose significant challenges, innovative approaches focused on their nutritional requirements could change the way we fight this disease.

For further reading on recent findings, check out the report by the National Cancer Institute here.

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Brain,Cancer,Metabolism,Science,Humanities and Social Sciences,multidisciplinary