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New ‘tempting’ method of treating cancer by removing amino acids found in meat, fish and eggs from patients’ diets is discovered in mouse study
- Serine is a building block of proteins that cancer cells need in extra amounts
- Decreasing amino acid levels therefore has the potential to inhibit tumor growth
- However, many cancer cells are able to produce their own serine instead.
- UK experts propose dual approach, using drug to stop serine production
- In a mouse model of bowel cancer, their regimen-drug combination slowed tumor growth
- However, they said, more research is needed before use in human patients.
A diet low in serine, an amino acid found in meat, fish and eggs – taken in tandem with drugs to stop its production – may provide a new approach to cancer treatment.
As they grow more aggressively, cancer cells are more dependent on serine – a building block of protein – than their healthy peers, suggesting potential weakness.
Previous studies in mice and human cells have indicated that lowering serine levels can slow tumor growth – but many cancer cells are able to make their own.
In fact, the “KRAS mutation” that allows tumors to produce serine is found in 30% of all patients, and is common in hard-to-treat bowel and pancreatic cancers.
However, British researchers have shown that in mice containing a transplant of cancerous cells from the human intestine, tumor growth is slowed down by diets low in serine and the drug PH755.
They reported that, encouragingly, PH755 induced few side effects in animals – and the two-pronged approach may work against a variety of cancers.
However, more work on human cells and safety testing will be needed before this treatment approach can be recommended for cancer patients.
A diet low in serine, an amino acid found in meat, fish and eggs (pictured) – taken in tandem with drugs to stop its production – may provide a new approach to cancer treatment
Prior to testing the dual approach in mouse models, the team saw promising results in laboratory cell cultures and in so-called organoids – 3D tumor models designed to mimic the complexity of real organs.
“The idea of being able to develop dietary interventions, based on understanding the mechanisms underlying how nutrient changes affect tumors, has the potential to unlock a powerful way to treat cancer,” said the biologist. of cancer Karen Vousden.
“In the future, this could provide a basis for developing a precision medicine approach to diet as a cancer treatment, just as we do with targeted drugs,” added the chief scientist of Cancer Research. UK.
“Customizing each individual’s diet to target the nutritional needs of cancer could, along with other therapies, give people the best opportunity to respond to treatment.
“ While it’s encouraging to see the potential to target the nutritional needs of cancer to help treat the disease, it’s important to remember that this is early research in mice and cells, ” said Martin Ledwick, head nurse at Cancer Research UK.
“People with cancer shouldn’t change their diet in light of this,” he warned.
“We have to see if this work results in cancer in humans before we test to see if diet changes are helpful.
“Understanding the basic biology of cancer through studies like this is essential to revealing the true complexity of the disease and can shed light on new avenues of treatment,” said Michelle Mitchell, Managing Director of Cancer Research UK.
“This research has given us tantalizing insight into how we can fight cancer food addictions, and we can’t wait to see if the approach works in people.”
The full results of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications.
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