Liver Cancer and Metabolic Changes
Liver cancer, though relatively rare compared to other types of cancer, is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
The main causes of liver cancer in the western world are hepatitis C virus infections and high alcohol consumption. Metabolic disorders associated with obesity also contribute to its development.
Liver cancer cells undergo rapid and uncontrolled proliferation, necessitating fundamental changes in their metabolism.
Downregulation of Acetyl-CoA Biosynthesis in Liver Cancer Cells
Researchers led by Professor Michael N. Hall from the Biozentrum at the University of Basel have discovered that liver cancer cells reduce the production of acetyl-CoA, a central molecule in cell metabolism.
This rewiring of global metabolism enables tumor cells to grow more rapidly. Acetyl-CoA is both a product of many degradative pathways and essential for the production and modification of numerous other molecules.
The downregulation of acetyl-CoA biosynthesis pathways in liver cancer cells affects various proteins, including metabolic enzymes.
These enzymes undergo functional alterations as they are no longer modified by acetyl-CoA, allowing tumor cells to convert sugar into energy more efficiently.
Impact on Cell Differentiation and Dedifferentiation
The reduction of acetyl-CoA levels also influences cell differentiation.
Lower acetyl-CoA levels promote the dedifferentiation of liver cells, causing them to revert to an early, immature stage of development. They lose their characteristic functions and undergo rapid division.
Regulation by Transcription Factors and Metabolic Signature
The researchers identified two transcription factors as key players in the repression of acetyl-CoA metabolic pathways in liver tumor cells.
These transcription factors regulate a wide range of genes, triggering extensive metabolic changes. The mechanism was observed in liver tumors from both mice and patients, indicating its relevance in human liver cancer.
The metabolic changes exhibited a distinct signature that is also found in other types of cancer, such as prostate and pancreatic cancer.
This metabolic cancer signature correlates with poor survival rates and may provide valuable information on disease progression.
Implications for Early Diagnosis and Screening
Liver cancer is often asymptomatic until the disease reaches an advanced stage, limiting treatment options.
The identification of the metabolic cancer signature raises intriguing possibilities for its use as a biomarker in the early detection and screening of liver cancer.
Early diagnosis could significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling timely intervention when surgery or liver transplantation is still feasible.
Unveiling Metabolic Changes in Liver Cancer
The study sheds light on the rewiring of metabolism in liver cancer cells, leading to accelerated growth.
The downregulation of acetyl-CoA biosynthesis pathways and the subsequent alterations in metabolic enzymes and cell differentiation contribute to the aggressive nature of liver cancer.
The discovery of key transcription factors involved in these changes provides potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
Moreover, the metabolic cancer signature observed in liver tumors holds promise for the early detection and screening of liver cancer, offering hope for improved outcomes and survival rates.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about a diet that can treat fatty liver disease and obesity, and coffee drinkers may halve their risk of liver cancer.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies that anti-inflammatory diet could help prevent fatty liver disease, and results showing vitamin D could help prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The study was published in Molecular Cell.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
