An inescapable issue: a common amino acid has been found to aid cancer development.

Researchers from the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology have identified a significant factor influencing lung metastases in the presence of cancer: the amino acid aspartate. Its primary danger lies in the fact that it is a fundamental amino acid that constitutes nearly everything, making it impossible to avoid its entry and interaction with our bodies. Consequently, this poses a lethal threat to billions of people, reports News Medical.

The study, published in the journal Nature and conducted under the guidance of Professor Sara-Maria Fendt, revealed that an abundance of aspartate creates a favorable environment for cancer cells, contributing to the lungs becoming a common site for metastasis. The findings may serve as a foundation for developing therapeutic measures to treat metastatic diseases, as this phenomenon affects more than half of cancer patients with secondary tumors, the authors state.

Aspartate, an amino acid found in low concentrations in blood plasma, was detected at significantly higher concentrations in the lungs of mice and patients with metastatic breast cancer. The research team noted that this increase supports a unique translational program in aggressive cancer cells, allowing them to adapt and proliferate in the pulmonary environment.

A key discovery in the study is the role of the eIF5A initiation factor, which undergoes a modification known as hypusination in response to aspartate signals. Notably, cancer cells do not directly absorb aspartate. Instead, aspartate activates NMDA receptors on the cell surface, triggering a chain reaction that modifies eIF5A. This molecular shift initiates a new protein synthesis program that enhances cancer cells' ability to adapt to and remodel the lung microenvironment.

The clinical significance of this scientific work was soon confirmed by the results of studies on human lung tumor samples, where similar mechanisms of NMDA receptor expression and eIF5A hypusination were observed. This underscores the potential universality of aspartate's role in lung metastasis regardless of the type and opens avenues for developing targeted therapeutic strategies. Professor Fendt noted that existing drugs could potentially disrupt this mechanism, offering hope for overcoming this process.

Aspartate is a crucial participant in cellular metabolism and protein synthesis. Besides its role in metastasis, it is essential for energy production in cells, particularly for mitochondrial function. The ability of cancer cells to manipulate this biochemical pathway demonstrates their level of adaptability, which continues to pose challenges for treating various oncological diseases.

Important! This article is based on the latest scientific and medical research and does not contradict them. The text is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice. For diagnosis, be sure to consult a physician.