A new ‘tempting’ method of treating cancer by removing amino acids found in meat, fish and eggs from the patient’s diet is discovered in a study with mice
- Serine is a protein building block that cancer cells require in extra amounts
- The reduction in amino acid levels, therefore, has the potential to inhibit tumor growth
- Many cancer cells, however, are able to produce their own serine instead
- UK experts propose a dual approach, using a drug to stop serine production
- In a mouse model with bowel cancer, its diet-drug combination slowed tumor growth
- However, they said, more research is needed before use in human patients
A diet low in serine, an amino acid in meat, fish and eggs – taken in conjunction with drugs to stop their production – may provide a new approach to cancer treatment.
As they grow more aggressively, cancer cells are more dependent on serine – a building block of protein – than their healthy counterparts, suggesting a potential weakness.
Previous studies in mice and human cells have indicated that lowering serine levels can slow tumor growth – but many cancer cells are able to make their own.
In fact, the ‘KRAS mutation’ that allows tumors to produce serine is found in 30 percent of all patients and is common in difficult-to-treat bowel and pancreatic cancers.
However, UK researchers have shown that in mice containing a graft of cancer cells from the human intestine, tumor growth is slowed by low-serine diets and the PH755 drug.
They reported that, in an encouraging way, PH755 induced few side effects in animals – and the dual approach may work against a variety of cancers.
However, additional work with human cells and safety tests will be needed before this treatment approach can be recommended for cancer patients.
A diet low in serine, an amino acid present in meat, fish and eggs (photo) – taken in conjunction with drugs to stop its production – can provide a new approach to cancer treatment
Before testing the dual approach in mouse models, the team saw promising results in both cell cultures in the laboratory and in so-called organoids – 3D tumor models that are designed to mimic the complexity of real organs.
“The idea of being able to develop dietary interventions, based on understanding the mechanisms behind how changes in nutrients affect tumors, has the potential to unlock a powerful way to treat cancer,” said biologist Karen Vousden.
“In the future, this could provide a basis for developing a precision medicine approach to diet as cancer therapy, just as we do with targeted drugs,” added the chief scientist at Cancer Research UK.
“Customizing each individual’s diet to meet the nutritional demands of cancer could, along with other therapies, give people the best opportunity to respond to treatment.”
“While it is encouraging to see the potential to target cancer nutritional demands to help treat the disease, it is important to remember that this is initial research in mice and cells,” said Cancer Research UK chief nurse Martin Ledwick.
“People with cancer should not change their diets because of this,” he warned.
“We need to see if this work translates to cancer in humans before testing to see if dietary changes are useful.”
“Understanding the fundamental biology of cancer through studies like this is vital in revealing the true complexity of the disease and can shed light on new treatment pathways,” said Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell.
“This research has given us a tantalizing glimpse of how we can turn cancer food addiction against it, and we are eager to see if the approach works for people.”
The full results of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications.