Targeting downstream proteins in cancer-causing pathway shows promise in cell, animal model, Penn study finds

The cancer-causing form of the gene Myc alters the metabolism of mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse, making it dependent on the amino acid glutamine for survival. In fact, 40 percent of all “hard-to-treat” cancers have a mutation in the Myc gene. Accordingly, depriving cells of glutamine selectively induces programmed cell death in cells overexpressing mutant Myc. Using Myc-active neuroblastoma cancer cells, a team led by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator M. Celeste Simon, identified the proteins PUMA, NOXA, and TRB3 as executors of the glutamine-starved cells. Read more here.

Study mentioned: Qing G, et al. ATF4 Regulates MYC-Mediated Neuroblastoma Cell Death upon Glutamine Deprivation. Cancer Cell. 2012; 22(5):631-644.