They then analyzed the metabolites - small molecules produced through various biological processes - found in those tissues. “Our aim was to see if there were specific altered metabolic pathways in tumors with KRAS mutations,” said Hong Yan, a postdoctoral associate in Johnson’s lab and lead author of the study.įor the study, the researchers used tissue samples from 200 patients, including colon tissue samples from 39 healthy patients, tumor samples from 60 patients with KRAS mutations, and tumor samples from 101 patients without KRAS mutations. The Yale researchers wondered whether metabolic differences may play a role. But mutated versions of the gene are linked to several types of cancer, including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer.Ĭolorectal tumors with this mutation are more drug resistant than others, making them more difficult to treat. When not mutated, the KRAS gene encodes for a protein that promotes normal cell growth and division. “The tumor adapts to survive, so it will actually rewire metabolism to ensure that it can stay alive and grow,” said Caroline Johnson, associate professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health and co-senior author of the study.īecause these metabolic changes are so critical for the survival of cancer cells, they can also be targets for treatment, researchers say.Īround 40% of patients with colorectal cancer have a mutation in a gene known as KRAS. The study was published April 20 in the journal Redox Biology.Ĭancer cells undergo metabolic changes in order to generate the fuel they need to grow and replicate. One key difference in these tumors, the researchers discovered, is a reduced tendency to undergo cell death, a finding that may reveal a potential new avenue for precision colorectal cancer treatment. Colorectal tumors found in men with a certain genetic mutation display different metabolism than those found in other patients, according to a new Yale study.
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