Scientists have conducted a study, published in the journal Nature, that found pancreatic cancer cells rely on a molecule called uridine for energy when they are deprived of glucose. Uridine is a type of sugar that is not normally used by healthy cells. The researchers found that pancreatic cancer cells have a higher level of the enzyme uridine phosphorylase 1 (UPP1), which converts uridine into ribose, a type of sugar that is used for energy. They also found that blocking UPP1 in pancreatic cancer cells slowed their growth and caused them to die.
The researchers believe that UPP1 could be a target for new pancreatic cancer treatments. They are currently working to develop drugs that block UPP1 and are testing them in animal models of pancreatic cancer. The disease is often diagnosed late, when it has spread to other parts of the body. The new findings could lead to new treatments that could help to improve the survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients.
In addition to, there have been a number of other recent studies that have identified metabolic vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer cells. These studies have focused on the role of different nutrients, such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids, in the growth and survival of pancreatic cancer cells. The findings of these studies suggest that targeting the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells could be a promising approach to cancer treatment. However, more research is needed to develop effective and safe metabolic therapies for pancreatic cancer.