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Starving the Devourer: Cutting Cancer Off from Its Favorite Foods

William P Katt1, Michael J Lukey1, Richard A Cerione2

  • 1Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

Cell Chemical Biology
|September 21, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Researchers discovered Glutor, a novel inhibitor of glucose uptake. Combining it with a glutaminase inhibitor creates a metabolic crisis, halting cancer cell proliferation.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cancer Biology
  • Metabolic Pathways

Background:

  • Tumorigenesis is characterized by increased glucose and glutamine metabolism.
  • Targeting cancer cell metabolism is a promising therapeutic strategy.
  • Understanding nutrient dependencies is crucial for cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discover novel inhibitors of cancer cell metabolism.
  • To investigate the synergistic effects of targeting glucose and glutamine pathways.
  • To identify new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Discovery and characterization of Glutor, a potent inhibitor of cellular glucose uptake.
  • Utilizing the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839.
  • Assessing the combined effect of Glutor and CB-839 on cancer cell proliferation.

Main Results:

  • Glutor effectively inhibits cellular glucose uptake.
  • The combination of Glutor and CB-839 induces a metabolic crisis in cancer cells.
  • Combined inhibition synergistically impedes cancer cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting both glucose and glutamine metabolism simultaneously offers a potent anti-cancer strategy.
  • Glutor represents a promising new therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.
  • Metabolic interventions hold significant potential for future cancer therapies.

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