One-carbon metabolism in cancer

Newman, A. C. and Maddocks, O. D.K. (2017) One-carbon metabolism in cancer. British Journal of Cancer, 116(2), pp. 1499-1504. (doi: 10.1038/bjc.2017.118) (PMID:28472819) (PMCID:PMC5518849)

Abstract

Cells require one-carbon units for nucleotide synthesis, methylation and reductive metabolism, and these pathways support the high proliferative rate of cancer cells. As such, anti-folates, drugs that target one-carbon metabolism, have long been used in the treatment of cancer. Amino acids, such as serine are a major one-carbon source, and cancer cells are particularly susceptible to deprivation of one-carbon units by serine restriction or inhibition of de novo serine synthesis. Recent work has also begun to decipher the specific pathways and sub-cellular compartments that are important for one-carbon metabolism in cancer cells. In this review we summarise the historical understanding of one-carbon metabolism in cancer, describe the recent findings regarding the generation and usage of one-carbon units and explore possible future therapeutics that could exploit the dependency of cancer cells on one-carbon metabolism.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Newman, Dr Alice and Maddocks, Professor Oliver
• Authors: Newman, A. C., and Maddocks, O. D.K.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: British Journal of Cancer
• Publisher: Cancer Research UK
• ISSN: 1532-1827
• ISSN (Online): 1532-1827
• Published Online: 04 May 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Cancer 116(2):1499-1504
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
66624	1	Targeting Tumour Metabolism for Cancer Therapy and Diagnosis.	Oliver Maddocks	Cancer Research UK (CRUK)	19702	RI CANCER SCIENCES