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Cysteine metabolic circuitries: druggable targets in cancer

Vasco D B Bonifácio1, Sofia A Pereira2, Jacinta Serpa3,4

  • 1iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal.

British Journal of Cancer
|November 23, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cysteine, an amino acid, fuels cancer growth by providing carbon and sulfur. Targeting cysteine metabolism offers a promising strategy for novel cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology
  • Metabolic pathways

Background:

  • Cancer cells exhibit metabolic adaptations for survival.
  • Cysteine plays a multifaceted role in cancer metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review cysteine's role in cancer biology.
  • To explore cysteine as a source of carbon and sulfur.
  • To discuss targeting cysteine metabolism for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cysteine's functions in cancer.
  • Analysis of cysteine's involvement in redox control, H2S production, and biosynthesis.
  • Examination of cysteine pools as prognostic markers.

Main Results:

  • Cysteine contributes to cancer through redox regulation, H2S generation, and as a carbon source.
  • Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) enhances cellular bioenergetics and acts as a signaling molecule.
  • Cysteine metabolism is crucial for epigenetic regulation, biomass, and energy production.

Conclusions:

  • Cysteine is a key player in cancer metabolic reprogramming.
  • Targeting cysteine metabolism presents a potential therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment.

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