Oral cancer cells may rewire alternative metabolic pathways to survive from siRNA silencing of metabolic enzymes

Conclusions:
Our results indicate that the metabolic defects introduced by siRNA silencing of metabolic enzymes TKT or AK2 may be compensated by alternative feedback metabolic mechanisms, suggesting that cancer cells may overcome single defective pathways through secondary metabolic network adaptations. The highly robust nature of oral cancer cell metabolism implies that a systematic medical approach targeting multiple metabolic pathways may be needed to accomplish the continued improvement of cancer treatment.

Source: BMC Cancer - March 25, 2014 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Min ZhangYang ChaiJeffrey BrumbaughXiaojun LiuRamin RabiiSizhe FengKaori MisunoDiana MessadiShen Hu Source Type: research