Targeting Glutamine Addiction in Gliomas

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2020 Feb 5

PMID 32013066

Citations 45

Authors

Marta Obara-Michlewska

Monika Szeliga

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The most common malignant brain tumors are those of astrocytic origin, gliomas, with the most aggressive glioblastoma (WHO grade IV) among them. Despite efforts, medicine has not made progress in terms of the prognosis and life expectancy of glioma patients. Behind the malignant phenotype of gliomas lies multiple genetic mutations leading to reprogramming of their metabolism, which gives those highly proliferating cells an advantage over healthy ones. The so-called glutamine addiction is a metabolic adaptation that supplements oxidative glycolysis in order to secure neoplastic cells with nutrients and energy in unfavorable conditions of hypoxia. The present review aims at presenting the research and clinical attempts targeting the different metabolic pathways involved in glutamine metabolism in gliomas. A brief description of the biochemistry of glutamine transport, synthesis, and glutaminolysis, etc. will forego a detailed comparison of the therapeutic strategies undertaken to inhibit glutamine utilization by gliomas.

Citing Articles

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Glutaminolysis is associated with mitochondrial pathway activation and can be therapeutically targeted in glioblastoma.

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