Researchers from the Francis Crick Institute, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and Imperial College London have made a groundbreaking discovery in cancer research, especially in the context of breast cancer.
Funded by Cancer Research UK as part of the Cancer Grand Challenges team Rosetta, their study uncovers a crucial link between vitamin B5 and the growth of breast cancer cells.
The findings, published in Nature Metabolism, offer new insights into how cancer cells use nutrients and could pave the way for novel treatment strategies.
Vitamin B5, known for its role in maintaining general health, has now been found to have a significant impact on cancer cells, especially those expressing a gene that drives cancer growth, called Myc.
When Myc is highly active in tumor cells, it disrupts normal cell functions, promotes growth, and makes these cells rely heavily on certain nutrients, including vitamin B5.
The team’s research involved creating tumors in mice with cells that had either high or low levels of Myc. They also studied human breast cancer tissues transplanted into mice.
Using a sophisticated imaging technique, mass spectrometry imaging, the researchers observed that areas with high Myc activity in both mouse and human tumors showed a strong association with vitamin B5.
This association was also noted in patient biopsies, suggesting a wider relevance to breast cancer treatment.
The researchers discovered that Myc made changes in the cells, increasing the amount of a transporter that lets more vitamin B5 into the cells. This influx of vitamin B5, even in cells with low Myc levels, was enough to accelerate their growth.
Intriguingly, when mice were fed a diet low in vitamin B5, their tumors, comprising both Myc-high and Myc-low cells, grew more slowly.
This was also true for the human breast cancer tissues in mice. Vitamin B5 is converted into a molecule called coenzyme A in cells, which is used in various metabolic pathways, ultimately leading to cell growth.
However, the researchers caution against simply reducing vitamin B5 intake in cancer patients. Vitamins are crucial for the immune system to combat tumors effectively.
Hence, the team is focusing on strategies to selectively target tumor cells without harming the immune system, aiming for a balance that could lead to favorable clinical outcomes.
Peter Kreuzaler, a former researcher at the Crick Institute and now a Group Leader at the University of Cologne, highlighted the study’s use of high-resolution imaging to understand tumor metabolism.
The study’s next phase will examine the effects of removing vitamin B5 in a robust immune system context.
The findings also have implications for personalized medicine. In collaboration with King’s College London, the team is developing tracers for vitamin B5 that could help identify patients more likely to respond to specific treatments targeting Myc.
Mariia Yuneva, senior group leader at the Crick and co-investigator in the study, stresses the complexity of human tumors compared to mouse models.
Understanding genetic profiles and tumor interactions with the body’s cells is vital for effective therapies targeting tumor metabolism.
Cancer Grand Challenges, co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the US, supports such innovative research.
David Scott, Director of Cancer Grand Challenges, lauds the Rosetta team for their work in understanding tumor metabolism and its effects on cancer growth.
This study not only provides new insights into how cancer cells grow but also opens up possibilities for targeted cancer treatments, bringing hope to those affected by this disease.
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The research findings can be found in Nature Metabolism.
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