Abstract SY41-03: Cancer specific amino acid metabolism

Abstract

Abstract The growth & proliferation of cancer cells is fundamentally dependent on metabolic processes, and tumours frequently display altered metabolism compared with healthy tissues. To sustain enhanced growth, and to resist stresses associated with cancer treatments, cancer cells become highly dependent on the uptake of exogenous nutrients, particularly amino acids. Amino acid metabolism supports tumour growth and survival in numerous ways, particularly in the provision of anabolic precursors for macromolecule (e.g. protein and DNA) synthesis, as well as stress responsive antioxidant pathways (e.g. glutathione/GSH synthesis). We have shown that uptake of exogenous serine and glycine is key nutrient dependency for many cancer cells, simultaneously supporting THF-dependent one carbon metabolism and GSH synthesis. More recently we have defined a role for immune-regulated IDO1 dependent tryptophan metabolism as an alternative one-carbon source for nucleotide synthesis, underlining the potential flexibility of tumour metabolism. The sensitivity of certain cancer cells to cysteine starvation is well established, and multiple mechanisms contribute to cysteine withdrawal sensitivity, including transsulfuration activity and methylation reactions. We have recently defined a role for methionine driven polyamine metabolism in sensitising cells to cysteine starvation, particularly in the context of MTAP gene deletion. Improved understanding of cancer specific amino acid metabolism is defining genetically driven metabolic vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited by a combination of diet and small molecules. Citation Format: Oliver Maddocks. Cancer specific amino acid metabolism [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr SY41-03.