New York: In a significant breakthrough, researchers have identified a key enzyme that could be targeted to slow the progression of glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and deadly types of brain cancer. The study, led by scientists from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James), has spotlighted the enzyme PGM3 as a promising therapeutic target.
Published in Science Advances, the study reveals that PGM3 plays a crucial role in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, which is responsible for protein and lipid glycosylation — processes that allow tumors to grow rapidly. Lipid glycosylation, in particular, involves the attachment of sugar molecules to fats, a modification that supports cancer cell survival and proliferation.
By blocking the activity of PGM3, researchers found they could disrupt this biochemical pathway, thereby significantly inhibiting the growth of glioblastoma cells. “This research is important because it has found a new target called PGM3. Blocking the PGM3 enzyme can break the connection between sugar and fat creation in cells, which helps stop tumours from growing,” said Dr. Deliang Guo, senior author of the study and founding director of the Center for Cancer Metabolism.
Glioblastoma, which originates in the glial cells of the brain, affects approximately 15,000 people in the United States each year. It is known for its rapid progression and resistance to conventional therapies, with a median survival time of just 12 to 16 months post-diagnosis despite aggressive treatment.
“New molecular targets for glioblastoma are urgently needed,” added Huali Su, first author of the study and a researcher with OSUCCC-James. The study brings fresh hope to patients and clinicians by pointing to a novel metabolic vulnerability in glioblastoma cells.
The collaborative research also involved scientists from institutions in France, the University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Irvine, and the University of Louisville, underlining the global effort to tackle this formidable disease.
