Scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, have identified a new mechanism that allows breast cancer cells to resist chemotherapy, offering a potential pathway to overcome drug resistance in patients. Their research, published in 'Nature Communications', found that some breast cancer cells 'rewire' their metabolism in response to chemotherapy, enabling them to survive and continue growing.
This metabolic rewiring involves an increase in the activity of the SLC6A8 protein, which transports creatine into cancer cells. Creatine is a molecule crucial for storing and supplying energy, and by enhancing its uptake, breast cancer cells can maintain their energy levels even when under attack from chemotherapy. The scientists observed this mechanism in both laboratory models and patient samples, indicating its clinical relevance.
Crucially, the researchers also found that inhibiting SLC6A8 using an experimental drug called cyclocreatine could make resistant breast cancer cells sensitive to chemotherapy again. This suggests a promising new therapeutic strategy: targeting SLC6A8 to block creatine uptake, thereby starving cancer cells of energy and overcoming drug resistance. The study was funded by organizations including Cancer Research UK and Breast Cancer Now, and the next steps involve further preclinical testing of SLC6A8 inhibitors, followed by clinical trials.
