Key Enzyme Identified to Combat Deadly Brain Cancer
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Researchers have identified a specific enzyme, PGM3, that plays a critical role in the growth of glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumor. Targeting this enzyme could lead to new treatments and significantly improve survival rates for patients.
Key Takeaways
- PGM3 is a key enzyme in glioblastoma growth.
- Targeting PGM3 can potentially halt tumor development.
- New strategies are needed to treat this aggressive brain cancer.
- Glioblastoma has a median survival of only 12-16 months.
- Research includes collaboration from multiple universities and countries.
New York, April 20 (NationPress) Focusing on a specific enzyme could hinder the progression of glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, researchers have discovered.
This enzyme, known as PGM3, is crucial in the hexosamine synthesis pathway, which plays a significant role in the protein and lipid glycosylation processes that enable tumors to proliferate swiftly.
Lipid glycosylation refers to the attachment of sugar molecules to fats (lipids) within the body.
Scientists from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James and Richard J. Solove Research Institute contend that targeting PGM3 could diminish tumor growth and eradicate glioblastoma cells.
“This research is pivotal as it identifies a novel target named PGM3. Inhibiting the PGM3 enzyme can disrupt the link between sugar and fat production in cells, effectively halting tumor growth,” stated lead author Deliang Guo, founding director of the Center for Cancer Metabolism, in a study published in the journal Science Advances.
Glioblastoma is a rapidly growing brain tumor that originates from glial cells. Approximately 15,000 individuals are diagnosed with this fatal brain tumor annually, according to the Glioblastoma Foundation.
The study presents a promising new strategy to combat glioblastoma, offering hope for future progress in cancer therapies, as mentioned by Guo.
“Glioblastoma is the deadliest primary brain tumor, with a median survival of only 12-16 months post-diagnosis despite intensive treatments,” remarked Huali Su, the first author of the paper and a researcher in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for Cancer Metabolism at OSUCCC-James.
“There is an urgent need for new molecular targets for glioblastoma,” Su emphasized in the paper.
The research team comprised scientists from France, as well as the University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Irvine, and University of Louisville.
