Researchers show how to step up cancer therapy efficacy

Print 01 March 2017
Marchmont Innovation News

Researchers from Russia’s Moscow Lomonosov State University (MSU) and their Swedish colleagues have provided enough evidence to show that denying cancer cells access to nutrient substances could impact therapy both negatively and positively, depending on the type of an anti-tumor drug. 

The scientists have  published an English-language article  on this research in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta – Molecular Cell Research. 

Cancer cells grow very fast and need much energy to sustain growth, consuming glucose in much greater quantities than healthy cells. However, if there’s not enough glucose for them to feed on, some of the cancer cells begin devouring an amino acid called glutamine. 

According to Vladimir Gogvadze, a senior research fellow at MSU’s apoptosis study laboratory, the international team has now proved that depending on different anti-tumor drugs, depriving cancer cells of access to glutamine can stimulate their death in some instances and prevent it in some others. So, it’s now clear that a physician should think twice before combining anti-tumor drug therapy with glutamine metabolism (TTFA mitochondrial complex II) inhibitors.

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