ISTANBUL

Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered a potential new way to slow the growth of glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer, by altering how tumors process nutrients.

Glioblastomas usually kill patients within one to two years, despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The tumors eventually recur and become resistant to treatment, SciTechDaily reported on Sunday.

Scientists have long suspected that this resilience is due to cancer cells' ability to reprogram their metabolism.

A new study published in Nature confirms that glioblastoma cells use sugar differently from normal brain tissue.

By injecting labeled glucose into both patients and mice, researchers found that while normal brain cells convert sugar into energy and chemicals needed for brain function, cancer cells redirect it into producing DNA and RNA building blocks, fueling rapid growth.

“It’s a metabolic fork in the road,” said Andrew Scott, a research scholar involved in the study.

“The brain channels sugar into energy and neurotransmitters, but tumors use it to make materials for more cancer cells.”

The team also discovered that glioblastomas shut down a key pathway for making amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, forcing them to scavenge amino acids like serine and glycine from the bloodstream.

This insight led researchers to test whether dietary changes could disrupt tumor growth.

“When we got rid of the amino acids serine and glycine in the mice, their response to radiation and chemotherapy was better and the tumors were smaller,” said co-senior author Deepak Nagrath, professor of biomedical engineering.

Mathematical models based on these findings suggest that blocking the nutrient "highways" that tumors use the most could be an effective strategy while leaving normal brain functions intact.

“This is a multidisciplinary effort from across the university,” said co-senior author Daniel Wahl, associate professor of radiation oncology.

“Our study may help create new treatment opportunities for patients in the near future.”

The research team is currently preparing clinical trials to see if amino acid-restricted diets can also benefit glioblastoma patients.

Glioblastomas continue to be among the deadliest cancers, but experts believe that targeting their specific metabolic needs could open up new treatment options.