The two sides of creatine in cancer
1Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceutical, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Abstract:
Creatine is a nitrogen-containing organic acid naturally existing in mammals. It can be converted into phosphocreatine to provide energy for muscle and nerve tissues. Creatine and its analog, cyclocreatine, have been considered cancer suppressive metabolites due to their effects on suppression of subcutaneous cancer growth. Recently, emerging studies have demonstrated the promoting effect of creatine on cancer metastasis. Orthotopic mouse models revealed that creatine promoted invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. Thus, creatine possesses considerably complicated roles in cancer progression. In this review, we systematically summarized the role of creatine in tumor progression, which will call to caution when considering creatine supplementation to clinically treat cancer patients.
More Related Videos
09:29Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
Published on: September 30, 2016
11:13Author Spotlight: Exploring Salidroside's Molecular Mechanisms in Breast Cancer Treatment
Published on: June 9, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
