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One-Carbon and Polyamine Metabolism as Cancer Therapy Targets

Anowarul Islam1,2, Zeeshan Shaukat2, Rashid Hussain2

  • 1College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide 5042, Australia.

Biomolecules
|December 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells rely on one-carbon and polyamine metabolism for survival and growth. Targeting these metabolic pathways offers a promising strategy for developing new anticancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Metabolic pathways
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cancer cells reprogram metabolism for survival and replication.
  • One-carbon metabolism is crucial for DNA synthesis, methylation, and antioxidant production.
  • Polyamines, key outputs of one-carbon metabolism, influence gene expression and signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of one-carbon and polyamine metabolism in cancer malignancy.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting these metabolic pathways in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on cancer metabolism.
  • Analysis of the functions of one-carbon and polyamine metabolism in cancer.
  • Examination of therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways.

Main Results:

  • One-carbon and polyamine metabolism are frequently altered in cancer.
  • These metabolic pathways are essential for cancer cell proliferation and survival.
  • Therapeutic inhibitors targeting these pathways are under investigation.

Conclusions:

  • One-carbon and polyamine metabolism represent significant targets for cancer therapy.
  • Further research into these pathways could lead to novel anticancer drugs.
  • Targeting cancer metabolism is a key area for future therapeutic development.
Keywords:
autophagycancermetabolic therapymethionineone-carbon metabolismpolyaminesreactive oxygen species

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