Researchers have found that vitamin B7 is critically important for the survival of malignant cells. Its deficiency disrupts vital mechanisms that allow tumors to adapt to glutamine shortage. This sensational discovery opens new horizons in the development of more powerful methods for combating cancer.
A group of scientists from the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), working closely with colleagues from the University of Nebraska and Northeastern University in the United States, has made a breakthrough. They have identified a previously unknown mechanism that makes cancer cells vulnerable. Their groundbreaking research, published in the prestigious journal Molecular Cell, details how tumor metabolism is inextricably linked to vitamin B7, also known as biotin, and the amino acid glutamine.
The scientists carefully studied how cells manage to survive in conditions of glutamine deficiency. This amino acid is vital for protein and DNA synthesis; without it, normal cell growth and division are impossible. However, cancer tumors often demonstrate a remarkable ability to find workarounds to overcome this critical issue.
The study found that in the absence of glutamine, cells can switch to using pyruvate. This carbon-rich molecule serves both as an intermediate in metabolism and as a valuable source of energy. A specific enzyme—pyruvate carboxylase—responsible for this alternative metabolic process effectively redirects cellular metabolism to consume pyruvate.
A key finding was that vitamin B7 is absolutely essential for the proper functioning of this enzyme. Without sufficient biotin, the entire mechanism fails significantly, leading to the cessation of tumor cell growth. Such metabolic mutations deprive tumors of their adaptive flexibility, making them unable to switch between different energy sources and significantly increasing their dependence on glutamine.
These results shed light on why existing therapies aimed at blocking glutamine do not always yield the desired effect. Both healthy and some cancer cells can activate backup pathways for energy production. Nevertheless, the discovered mechanism instills great hope for the development of entirely new treatment strategies. For example, it may be possible to develop combined approaches that simultaneously target multiple metabolic pathways to combat cancer more effectively.
