Scientists have identified a molecule that connects a biochemical pathway used by cancer cells to generate energy, and regulation of an oncogene that drives the progression of breast cancer and other tumor types. The studies, by a team at Baylor College of Medicine and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, showed that PFKFB4, an enzyme in the Warburg pathway, activates an oncogene called SRC-3. The findings throw new light on the long-recognized phenomenon of the Warburg effect - by which cancer cells forego normal mitochondrial metabolism of glucose, and instead convert glucose to lactate via fermentation - and suggest potential new drug targets. The team’s in vivo tests showed that inhibiting either PFKFB4 or SRC-3 in cancer-bearing mice led to reduced tumor growth and size, and prevented the tumors from metastasizing to the lungs. The researchers report their findings in Nature , in a paper entitled, “ Metabolic enzyme ...
Original Article: Cancer Metabolism Link with Breast Cancer Oncogene