A groundbreaking study has found that a special amino acid diet can cause aggressive cancer cells to self-destruct. Researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Columbia University conducted experiments on mice with glioblastoma, a type of tumor with a 100% mortality rate and an average life expectancy of 16 months from diagnosis. The study, published in Nature Communications, found that restricting the intake of methionine and cysteine, two sulfur-containing amino acids, led to the self-destruction of cancer cells. The amino acid diet not only had direct effects on ferroptosis, a form of cell death, but also made the cancer cells more responsive to chemotherapy.
The human immune system usually eliminates abnormal or unnecessary cells, but cancer cells often block this process, leading to tumor growth. Ferroptosis, a recently discovered form of cell death, plays a crucial role in this process, with iron and two sulfur-containing amino acids being essential components. The study found that certain proteins in glioblastoma and other tumors prevent ferroptosis, leading to the survival of cancer cells. By restricting the intake of methionine and cysteine, the researchers were able to overcome this blockage and trigger self-destruction of cancer cells.
While the results of the study are promising, it is still unclear whether they can be replicated in humans. A clinical trial with human subjects is planned to test the effectiveness of the amino acid diet in treating glioblastoma and other types of cancer. If successful, this could be a major breakthrough in cancer treatment, offering a non-invasive and cost-effective alternative to traditional therapies.
