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The metabolic profile of tumors depends on both the responsible genetic lesion and tissue type

Mariia O Yuneva1, Teresa W M Fan, Thaddeus D Allen

  • 1G.W. Hooper Research Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. mariia.yuneva@ucsf.edu

Cell Metabolism
|February 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Tumor metabolism varies by cancer origin. MYC-driven liver tumors break down glucose and glutamine, while MET-driven tumors produce glutamine. Targeting glutaminase 1 (Gls1) may be effective against MYC-driven cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Metabolism
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Altered tumor metabolism is a key target for anticancer therapies.
  • The link between specific tumor-initiating lesions and in vivo metabolic anomalies remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how distinct tumor-initiating lesions (MYC and MET) influence tumor metabolism in vivo.
  • To explore the role of glutamine metabolism in different tumor types and its therapeutic implications.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of MYC-induced and MET-induced mouse liver tumors.
  • Examination of glucose and glutamine catabolism pathways.
  • Assessment of glutamine synthetase (Glul) and glutaminase (Gls1, Gls2) expression.
  • Inhibition of Gls1 in MYC-overexpressing cancer cells.

Main Results:

  • MYC-induced liver tumors exhibit increased glucose and glutamine catabolism.
  • MET-induced liver tumors utilize glucose to synthesize glutamine.
  • MYC-induced liver tumors show reduced Glul and a shift from Gls2 to Gls1.
  • MYC-induced lung tumors accumulate glutamine with increased Glul and Gls1 expression.
  • Gls1 inhibition effectively kills MYC-overexpressing, glutamine-catabolizing cells.

Conclusions:

  • Tumor metabolic profiles are significantly influenced by both genotype and tissue of origin.
  • Targeting specific metabolic pathways, like Gls1, shows promise for tailored anticancer therapies.
  • Understanding tumor-specific metabolism is crucial for designing effective therapeutic strategies.

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