Nature sub-journal: Inhibition of key metabolic enzyme is expected to treat melanoma

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys, who show for the first time that inhibiting a key metabolic enzyme can selectively kill melanoma cells and stop tumor growth

"We found that melanomas are addicted to an enzyme called GCDH," said Professor Ronay, director of the NCI-designated Sanford Burnham Preby Cancer Centre

Because tumors grow rapidly and require a lot of nutrients, researchers have been studying ways to starve cancer cells

GCDH, short for glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase, plays an important role in metabolizing lysine and tryptophan, amino acids essential for human health

"Melanoma cells 'eat' lysine and tryptophan to produce energy," said Dr.

Further studies showed that inhibiting GCDH in animal models conferred anticancer properties of NRF2

"We've known for a long time that NRF2 can be both a driver and a suppressor of cancer," said Ronai

The researchers also found that inhibiting GCDH was selective for melanoma

From a therapeutic standpoint, the study revealed several possible options

GCDH inhibition shows significant therapeutic promise

"In this study, we used a genetic approach to inhibit GCDH, which provides proof-of-concept for the search for small-molecule inhibitors," Verma said