Periodic fasting starves cisplatin-resistant cancers to death

EMBO J. 2018 Jul 13;37(14):e99815. doi: 10.15252/embj.201899815. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Abstract

Treatment of cancers with the cytotoxic agent cisplatin frequently evokes resistance, accompanied by rewiring of metabolic pathways, limiting its clinical use. Recent research by Obrist et al (2018) shows that cisplatin‐resistant growth of lung adenocarcinoma is particularly vulnerable to periodic fasting cycles and starvation‐induced cell death, due to its dependency on glutamine, required for nucleoside biosynthesis, suggesting an opportunity for nutritional anti‐cancer interventions.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents*
  • Cisplatin
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Fasting
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cisplatin