Serine-Glycine-One-Carbon Metabolism: The Hidden Achilles Heel of MYCN-Amplified Neuroblastoma?

Cancer Res. 2019 Aug 1;79(15):3818-3819. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-19-1816.

Abstract

In this issue of Cancer Research, Xia and colleagues show that MYC-induced metabolic reprograming results in dependency on the serine-glycine-one-carbon (SGOC) metabolic pathway in neuroblastoma. This occurs through MYCN and ATF4 activation of the SGOC biosynthetic pathway in MYCN-amplified cells. Furthermore, inhibition of de novo serine synthesis generates metabolic stress in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells, causing cell-cycle arrest and autophagy. Together, these data suggest that the SGOC pathway is an attractive therapy target in neuroblastoma.See related article by Xia et al., p. 3837.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Carbon
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Glycine
  • Humans
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Neuroblastoma*
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins*
  • Serine

Substances

  • MYCN protein, human
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • Serine
  • Carbon
  • Glycine