BioMed Central Blog

'Feed a cold, starve a tumor' – glucose deprivation as a therapy for TSC-related tumors

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder, caused by mutation in one of the tumor-suppressor genes, TSC1 or TSC2. The condition is characterized by the formation of multiple non-malignant tumours throughout the brain and other vital organs of the body, and is prevalent in nearly one million people worldwide, with symptoms ranging from mild skin abnormalities to uncontrollable seizures and kidney failure.

In the latest research published in Cell & Bioscience, Jiang et al. demonstrate that the growth and cell proliferation of TSC-related tumors can be inhibited by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), which restricts glucose metabolism. In stark contrast, a “carb-free” diet fails to prove effective in reducing tumor growth and leads to increased tumor size.

Csibi and Blenis, in a commentary published in BMC Biology, discuss these new findings and their therapeutic potential:

“Cancer therapy is increasingly shifting toward individualized therapeutic approaches based on the genetic abnormalities exhibited by transformed cells. Jiang et al. demonstrate that targeting glucose addiction is an effective approach for decreasing the growth of tumors driven by TSC mutations. Thus glucose addiction may prove to be the ‘Achilles’ heel’ for the treatment of TSC.”

This research raises questions as to the potential use of 2-DG in treating TSC-tumors, in light of whether the toxic effects of 2-DG can be minimised, and moreover whether this will translate into a therapeutic approach for other tumor types.

Posted by Elizabeth Bal at 15:21    Comments (0)