A study led by Brazilian researchers and reported in an article published in the journal Nature Communications proposes that simultaneously targeting the enzyme glutaminase and the protein HuR, both of which are essential to tumor progression, may be effective in treating breast cancer. The metabolic requirements of tumor cells are associated with high levels of glutamine consumption to produce energy. The first step is conversion of glutamine to glutamate catalyzed by glutaminase, which has three isoforms (GAC, KGA and LGA) with differing relationships to tumor progression , and is a good target for treatment, according to the researchers.
"Glutaminase is important because it converts glutamine into compounds that fuel the energy and cell input production cycle. This makes it essential for cancer cells, which have a very active metabolism to sustain rapid growth," said Douglas Adamoski, first author of the article with a Ph.D.
Glutaminase inhibition is therefore a common target for cancer treatment , but the researchers innovated by focusing on how HuR regulates the RNA metabolism of glutaminase as a strategy to enhance its efficacy. "Another important aspect of the study was a groundbreaking investigation of the role of HuR in the overall control of cellular metabolism. The article shows how it regulates tumor cell metabolism by affecting key metabolic genes.
This includes pathways such as glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and fatty acid synthesis , for example," said Sandra Mart.