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Fatty acid metabolism as a possible new therapeutic approach for glioblastomas

No. 23 | 13/05/2019 | by MM/Koh

In order to gain enough energy for their rapid growth, glioblastoma cells reprogram their fatty acid metabolism. How they do this has been unclear until now. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg have now discovered that a protein called ACBP (acyl-CoA-binding protein) enhances the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria. This provides glioblastoma cells with the necessary energy source for their rapid growth. This discovery is not only scientifically relevant, but may also offer new therapeutic approaches for an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis.

Tissue sample from a mouse brain showing a tumor generated from human glioblastoma cells. In green, tumor cells expressing EGFP, in red the proliferation marker Ki67 and in white the astrocyte marker GFAP.
© J. Alfonso/DKFZ

Although intensive research has been carried out for a long time, glioblastoma is still one of the most dangerous of all tumors today. The life expectancy of those affected is often just one year after diagnosis.

In order to grow so aggressively and rapidly, glioblastoma cells need a great deal of energy, which they mainly obtain from an altered fatty acid metabolism. If they are deprived of this way of generating energy, the growth of cancer cells slows down.

This thought led the scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) to investigate the production of a cell protein called acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) in mice. The researchers found that ACBP apparently controls the availability of fatty acids in the mitochondria, the "power plants of the cell". So what would happen if ACBP was switched off?

"In our mice, we succeeded in genetically switching off ACBP completely from the tumor. This led to a longer survival of the animals because the tumor had less energy at its disposal and was therefore less able to grow," says Julieta Alfonso from the DKFZ in Heidelberg, the senior author of the study.

In several preclinical models the authors of this study could now show that ACBP blockade deprives glioblastoma cells of their fatty acid supply and thus their energy source, resulting in a slower growth rate of tumor cells and, accordingly, increased survival time of the mice.

"Our study reveals a critical link between fatty acid metabolism and the aggressive growth of glioblastoma. In the future, ACBP could possibly represent a new therapeutic target for the treatment of this poorly treatable type of cancer," concludes Alfonso.

However, the scientist points out that many questions still have to be clarified: So far, there is no drug available that inhibits the activity of ACBP. Therefore, the scientists are currently unable to make any statements about the side effects of ACBP inhibition in the entire body.

Ceren Duman, Kaneschka Yaqubi, Angelika Hoffmann, Azer Aylin Acikgöz, Andrey Korshunov, Martin Bendszus, Christel Herold-Mende, Hai-Kun Liu, and Julieta Alfonso: Acyl-CoA-Binding Protein Drives Glioblastoma Tumorigenesis by Sustaining Fatty Acid Oxidation.
Cell Metabolism 2019, 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.04.004

A picture is available for download:
www.dkfz.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2019/bilder/Brain-Tumor-in-mouse.jpg 
Caption: Tissue sample from a mouse brain showing a tumor generated from human glioblastoma cells. In green, tumor cells expressing EGFP, in red the proliferation marker Ki67 and in white the astrocyte marker GFAP.

Note on use of images related to press releases
Use is free of charge. The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) permits one-time use in the context of reporting about the topic covered in the press release. Images have to be cited as follows: "Source: J. Alfonso/DKFZ".
Distribution of images to third parties is not permitted unless prior consent has been obtained from DKFZ's Press Office (phone: ++49-(0)6221 42 2854, E-mail: presse@dkfz.de). Any commercial use is prohibited.

 

With more than 3,000 employees, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute. DKFZ scientists identify cancer risk factors, investigate how cancer progresses and develop new cancer prevention strategies. They are also developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to questions relating to cancer.

To transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improve the prognosis of cancer patients, the DKFZ cooperates with excellent research institutions and university hospitals throughout Germany:

  • National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT, 6 sites)
  • German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, 8 sites)
  • Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg
  • Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology (HI-TRON Mainz) - A Helmholtz Institute of the DKFZ
  • DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim
  • National Cancer Prevention Center (jointly with German Cancer Aid)
The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.

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