New compound kills cancer cells by starving them of glucose

Washington, Aug 4 : Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a compound called STF-31 that attacks the Achillesa€™ heel of certain cancer cells by depriving them of their energy source, the sugar glucose.
a€oeThis study demonstrates an approach for selectively inhibiting the ability of cancer cells to take up glucose, which is a pretty powerful way of killing those cells,a€ said senior study author Amato Giaccia, PhD, professor and director of radiation oncology.
The researchers focused their study on the most common form of kidney cancer in adults, renal cell carcinomas, which is resistant to typical chemotherapies.
Most renal cell carcinomas produce energy through a biochemical process called aerobic glycolysis, one that healthy cells dona€™t typically require. The energy-making process is dependent on the cellsa€™ ability to take up glucose from their environment.
a€oeThe cells that we are targeting are highly dependent on glucose transport for energy production,a€ said Denise Chan, PhD, former postdoctoral researcher at Stanford and co-first author of the new study.
a€oeThis compound stops the cells from transporting glucose, so it starves them,a€ he added. (Agencies)


2011-08-04

Health News Fit as a fiddle : Gym mania May 21/2013 : The gym has become the most happening place today as fitness-frenzy takes over the young and old alike. A good sign, but one has to know how to go about it too in order to avoid harm to the body experts say. Anju Munshi reports Many a time in order to stay fit, we just walk into a gym , step on to the treadmill, pick up weights blindly, pull a neck muscle, writhe in pain, but finish the schedule with a glass of chilled water and finally walk out tired yet satisfied. But we may actually have gone against the concept of fitness. For, without an expert's guidance we tend to abuse our bodies, say trainers. This is ... Read More

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