Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Radiosynthesis of 1-2-[18F]Fluoroethyl-L-Tryptophan using a One-pot, Two-step Protocol
08:33

Radiosynthesis of 1-2-[18F]Fluoroethyl-L-Tryptophan using a One-pot, Two-step Protocol

Published on: September 21, 2021

3.1K

Tryptophan metabolism in digestive system tumors: unraveling the pathways and implications

Liang Yu1, Juan Lu2, Weibo Du3

  • 1State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis, Treatment of Infectious Diseases,, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China.

Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS
|March 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism is key in digestive cancers. Targeting Trp metabolites shows promise for improving cancer treatment and predicting patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology
  • Metabolomics

Background:

  • Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism is implicated in digestive system tumor development.
  • Dysregulated Trp metabolites are found in esophageal, gastric, liver, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
  • Aberrant Trp metabolites correlate with clinical features and can predict prognosis and recurrence risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of tryptophan metabolism in digestive system tumors.
  • To investigate tryptophan metabolites as prognostic and predictive biomarkers.
  • To evaluate therapeutic strategies targeting tryptophan metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of tryptophan metabolite levels in digestive system tumors.
  • Correlation of metabolite levels with clinical features and patient outcomes.
  • Assessment of the impact of targeting tryptophan metabolism enzymes.

Main Results:

  • Tryptophan metabolites are associated with tumor growth, metastasis, immune evasion, angiogenesis, and drug resistance.
  • Suppression of key enzymes in Trp metabolism reduces metabolite accumulation and tumor progression.
  • Trp metabolite levels serve as prognostic indicators and recurrence predictors.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting tryptophan metabolism offers a promising therapeutic strategy for digestive system tumors.
  • Enzyme inhibitors and tailored drugs show potential for enhancing treatment outcomes.
  • Combination therapy with immunotherapy may improve treatment efficacy.
Keywords:
BiomarkerMechanismMetabolic reprogrammingTreatment strategyTryptophan metabolism

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Quantification of Selected Kynurenines Analyzed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry in Medium Collected from Cancer Cell Cultures10:38

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

Published on: May 9, 2020

3.4K
Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma13:18

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma

Published on: March 3, 2023

1.2K

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists01:23

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...
252
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
6.3K
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
6.6K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.8K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
524
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
1.2K