Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 4/23/2008

Question
My grandfather passed away from cancer. We had learned about metabolic rates in our biochemistry class, and I compared it with the metabolic rate of cancer and found that cancer has a rate of anaerobic metabolism that is higher than most body tissues. Could a drug target that? Is there any testing that could be done to see what processes a drug targets in general? This question might be too broad, but if you could give any insight,even on theories that have not been proven  as correct yet, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Answer
Thank you for your question.  

I’m sorry to hear of your grandfather’s death.  

This is a very broad question that cannot be answered in a couple of paragraphs.  I can give you some ideas and explanations, but I’ll also send you some references to search.

One of the major problems facing cancer researchers is how to target only the cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone.  If you’re learning about anaerobic metabolism in your biochemistry class, you undoubtedly are also learning that many cells use this metabolic pathway.  Muscle cells, for example, use anaerobic metabolism when their energy needs are greater than the replacement blood supply.  The byproducts of muscle anaerobic metabolism are lactic acid, which is why your muscles ache after exercise.

Right now, cancer researchers are focusing on the switch from metabolism to proliferation.  As I’m sure you know, cancer cells proliferate without end, obstructing normal cell function and crowding out normal cell structure.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060828212134.htm


There are some glucose phosphorylation inhibitors that are being tested in specific cancer cell lines.  Among these are 2-deoxy-D-glucose and CP-320626 which decrease proliferation.  
http://www.pancreasweb.com/pancreas.asp?ak=Detail&zaehler=1973

Here are some original research articles on the subject:

Comparison of Metabolic Pathways between Cancer Cells and Stromal Cells in Colorectal Carcinomas: a Metabolic Survival Role for Tumor-Associated Stroma
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/66/2/632


Anticancer efficacy of systemically delivered anaerobic bacteria as gene therapy vectors targeting tumor hypoxia/necrosis.
http://www.nature.com/gt/journal/v9/n4/full/3301659a.html


I hope my response was able to help you.  Please write back if you have more questions.

FM Rollwagen, PhD