Free Asparagine or Die: Cancer Cells Require Proteasomal Protein Breakdown to Survive Asparagine Depletion

Cancer Discov. 2020 Nov;10(11):1632-1634. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-1251.

Abstract

The chemotherapeutic enzyme asparaginase depletes systemic asparagine to kill cancers; however, its efficacy thus far is limited to a subset of leukemias. Hinze and colleagues identify that inhibiting proteasomal release of asparagine can sensitize colorectal cancers to asparagine depletion, providing a potential avenue to repurpose asparaginase for treatment of solid tumors.See related article by Hinze et al., p. 1690.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Asparaginase / metabolism
  • Asparagine
  • Colorectal Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Asparagine
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Asparaginase