The Unexpected Link Between Vitamin B5 and Cancer Growth: A New Avenue for Targeted Therapies
For decades, cancer research has focused on genetic mutations as the primary drivers of tumor development. However, a groundbreaking study from the Crick Institute, published with support from Cancer Grand Challenges, reveals a surprising and potentially transformative connection between cancer growth and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) metabolism. This research isn’t advocating for vitamin restriction, but rather opens up exciting new possibilities for targeted cancer therapies and improved diagnostic tools.Uncovering a Metabolic Dependency
The study,led by researchers mariia yuneva and Peter Kreuzaler,demonstrates that cancer cells,particularly those with low levels of the Myc gene - a known cancer driver – exhibit a heightened dependence on external sources of vitamin B5. Traditionally, it was assumed that cancer cells simply consumed more nutrients due to their rapid proliferation.This research reveals a more nuanced picture: certain cancer cells require increased vitamin B5 uptake to fuel their growth, even when other growth signals are diminished.
Researchers discovered that cells with low Myc expression struggled to efficiently transport vitamin B5 into the cell. Crucially, when thay artificially increased the production of the vitamin B5 transporter, they observed a restoration of growth rates, mirroring the effect of normal Myc levels. This suggests that vitamin B5 availability directly impacts the metabolic capacity of these cancer cells.From Mouse Models to Human Tissue: Consistent Findings
The findings weren’t limited to laboratory cell cultures. Experiments involving mice bearing human breast cancer tissue showed a significant slowdown in tumor growth when the animals were fed a vitamin B5-deficient diet. this effect was observed in both Myc-high and Myc-low tumor subtypes, highlighting the broader importance of vitamin B5 metabolism in cancer progression.
Why Vitamin B5? The Role of Coenzyme A
The key lies in how vitamin B5 functions within the cell. Once inside, it’s converted into coenzyme A (CoA), a vital molecule involved in numerous metabolic pathways. CoA is essential for the production of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates - the building blocks and energy sources that fuel cell growth and division. By limiting vitamin B5 availability, researchers effectively disrupt this critical metabolic process, hindering the cancer cells’ ability to thrive.
A Delicate Balance: Why Restricting Vitamin B5 Isn’t the Answer (Yet)
While these findings are promising, the researchers are fast to emphasize that simply restricting vitamin B5 intake is not a viable cancer treatment strategy. Vitamin B5 is crucial for normal bodily functions, including immune system health. Suppressing it systemically could compromise the body’s ability to fight the tumor. Moreover, vitamin B5 is produced by the gut microbiome, making complete deprivation difficult to achieve.
The Future: Targeted Therapies and Biomarker Potential
The research team is now focused on developing strategies to selectively disrupt vitamin B5 metabolism within the tumor, leaving healthy cells and the immune system unaffected. This could involve developing drugs that specifically target the vitamin B5 transporter or interfere with CoA production within cancer cells.
Beyond therapy, the study also highlights the potential of vitamin B5 levels as a biomarker. by tracking vitamin B5 uptake and metabolism, doctors could gain valuable insights into a tumor’s genetic makeup and predict its likely response to specific treatments, particularly those targeting the Myc pathway. The team is actively developing specialized tracers for vitamin B5 imaging to facilitate this diagnostic approach.
Expert Commentary & The Importance of Complex Systems
“Previously, tumor metabolism was measured in bulk, and couldn’t give too many insights into how areas of tumors use molecules like vitamins differently,” explains Dr. Peter Kreuzaler, now at the University of Cologne. “By using a specialized imaging technique with high resolution in this study, we could see how metabolism differs across a tumor, and that taking away just one vitamin stops a cascade of cancer-driving events.”
Dr. Mariia Yuneva emphasizes the complexity of human tumors.”Metabolic dependencies of tumours have been explored as potential therapeutic targets in mouse models of cancer and showed promise. Though,human tumours are much more complex. It’s significant we understand the role of different genetic profiles, and interactions between the tumours and the body’s own cells, to design effective therapies targeting tumour metabolism in humans.”
This research, funded by cancer Grand Challenges, underscores the importance of exploring the intricate metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells. It represents a significant step towards a more personalized and effective approach to cancer treatment, moving beyond a sole focus on genetic mutations to encompass the complex interplay between nutrients, metabolism, and tumor growth.
Resources:
Cancer Grand Challenges: https://cancergrandchallenges.org/
The Crick Institute: [https://www.crick
