Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Simultaneous Quantification of Selected Kynurenines Analyzed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Medium Collected from Cancer Cell Cultures
10:38

Simultaneous Quantification of Selected Kynurenines Analyzed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Medium Collected from Cancer Cell Cultures

Published on: May 9, 2020

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Immuno-Metabolic Modulation of Liver Oncogenesis by the Tryptophan Metabolism

Véronique Trézéguet1, Hala Fatrouni1, Aksam J Merched1

  • 1MiRCade Team, BMGIC, INSERM U1035, University of Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.

Cells
|December 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Tumor cells rewire metabolism, impacting the immune system. This study analyzes the tryptophan kynurenine pathway

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Metabolism

Background:

  • Tumor cells exhibit metabolic rewiring, a hallmark of oncogenesis.
  • Oncometabolites can induce immune suppression, aiding tumor survival.
  • The tryptophan (TRP) kynurenine (KYN) pathway is implicated in cancer immunosuppression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of TRP catabolism in oncogenesis.
  • To analyze the TRP metabolic hub in the context of liver cancers.
  • To clarify the immunosuppressive mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive analysis of the TRP metabolic hub.
  • Focus on liver cancers and their specific tumoral terrain.
  • Evaluation of TRP and KYN pathway dynamics in oncogenesis.

Main Results:

  • The KYN pathway's immunosuppressive actions are observed across various cancers.
  • Debate persists on whether TRP depletion or KYN accumulation drives immunosuppression.
  • Clinical trials inhibiting indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) or tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2) yielded suboptimal results.

Conclusions:

  • The complexity of the tumoral terrain necessitates a deeper understanding of metabolic hubs.
  • Further research into the TRP metabolic hub is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies.
  • Targeting the TRP-KYN pathway requires consideration of cancer-specific enzyme expression.
Keywords:
IDO1TDO2hepatoblastomaimmuno-oncologykynureninliver cancermetabolismtryptophan

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