An international team of researchers has identified a previously unknown vulnerability in one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, glioblastoma, potentially opening the door to recent therapeutic interventions that include both medication and carefully controlled dietary strategies.
The study, conducted by researchers from five European countries, including the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, was published in the journal Science Advances. The findings suggest that certain anti-inflammatory steroid medications, commonly used in medical practice, unexpectedly influence how glioblastoma cells process vitamin B3 (niacin). This discovery offers a potential new avenue for treatment in a disease with limited options.
An Unexpected Metabolic Weakness
According to researchers, administering steroids significantly alters vitamin B3 metabolism in glioblastoma cells. This change creates a metabolic vulnerability that could be therapeutically exploited. Dr. Saverio Tardito, involved in the project, explained that the team discovered a previously unknown sensitive point in the biology of these tumors. In preclinical models, combining steroid treatment with a diet that limits methionine intake – an essential amino acid – slowed tumor growth.
Methionine plays a key role in numerous cellular processes, including the synthesis of metabolites necessary for tumor proliferation. In the context of steroid-induced changes, reducing the availability of methionine deprives cancer cells of critical metabolic resources for development.
Why is Vitamin B3 Relevant?
Vitamin B3, likewise known as niacin, is found in numerous foods, particularly those rich in protein. Key sources include meat (liver, chicken, pork, beef), fish (tuna, salmon, anchovies), peanuts, legumes, avocado, mushrooms, brown rice, and fortified cereals.
The discovery does not suggest eliminating these foods, but rather highlights how the metabolism of vitamin B3 and methionine can be strategically influenced in certain therapeutic contexts. It is essential to emphasize that the results come from preclinical studies, and application to patients requires validation through rigorous clinical trials.
A Step Forward in a Field with Limited Options
Glioblastoma is recognized as a rapidly evolving brain cancer with a poor prognosis. The need for more effective treatments is urgent. Representatives from Cancer Research UK emphasized that any discovery capable of slowing disease progression and offering patients more time represents significant progress. What sets this research apart is its integrated approach: it doesn’t propose a revolutionary new drug, but rather re-evaluates how existing therapies, such as steroids frequently used to reduce brain inflammation, can be combined with precise nutritional interventions to amplify the therapeutic effect.
The results open a promising direction for the development of personalized strategies, where diet could turn into a real adjunct to cancer therapy. Yet, any dietary changes in patients with brain cancer must be carried out exclusively under medical supervision, given the risks associated with nutritional imbalances.
Foto: shutterstock
Sursă: https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/health/foods-rich-one-nutrient-can-33386825
