An international team of researchers has pioneered a novel approach to combat cancer by leveraging nutrients to reawaken suppressed metabolic pathways within cancer cells. Their breakthrough, which involves using a common amino acid, tyrosine, encapsulated in nanomedicine form to alter the metabolism of melanoma, a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer, thereby inhibiting its growth, holds immense potential for the future of cancer treatment.

Melanoma poses a significant health challenge in countries like Australia, which has the highest incidence of skin cancer globally. This innovative treatment method, potentially augmenting existing therapies, represents a significant advancement in melanoma treatment and holds promise for addressing other types of cancer.

Led by Professor Wenbo Bu from Fudan University and Professor Dayong Jin from the University of Technology Sydney, the study titled “Nutrient-delivery and metabolism reactivation therapy for melanoma” was recently published in Nature Nanotechnology, underscoring its scientific significance. The researchers tackled the challenge of tyrosine’s limited bioavailability in living organisms by employing advanced nanotechnology to encapsulate it into nanomicelles—tiny particles that specifically target cancer cell membranes, enhancing absorption and efficacy.

Experimental validation in mouse models and human-derived melanoma cells demonstrated that tyrosine nanomicelles effectively revived dormant metabolic pathways within cancer cells. This action stimulated melanin synthesis, crucial for melanoma cells derived from melanocytes, and suppressed glycolysis—the process through which cancer cells convert sugars into energy to fuel their rapid proliferation.

Professor Dayong Jin highlighted the distinctive feature of cancer cells—uncontrolled growth driven by altered metabolic pathways. While existing cancer treatments often focus on inhibiting overactive metabolic processes, such as those involving aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer or HK2 inhibitors in various cancers, this study proposes a paradigm shift by reactivating dormant pathways essential for cancer cell survival.

Professor Wenbo Bu emphasised the safety and availability of nutrient-based approaches, contrasting them favourably with more conventional pharmacological interventions. By harnessing simple and widely tolerated nutrients like amino acids, sugars, and vitamins, the researchers believe they have uncovered a fundamentally new strategy to combat cancer, providing a sense of reassurance to the audience.

The specificity of nutrient response varies across different types of cancer. In the case of melanoma, which originates from melanocytes responsible for melanin production, tyrosine plays a pivotal role in melanin synthesis. The reactivation of melanin production induced by tyrosine nanomicelles effectively forces melanoma cells to downregulate glycolysis, thus impairing their ability to sustain rapid growth—a crucial mechanism underpinning the therapeutic efficacy observed in the study.

Moreover, the researchers explored synergistic treatment modalities to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Combining tyrosine nanomicelle therapy with near-infrared laser treatment exploited the susceptibility of melanoma cells to heat stress, resulting in complete eradication of melanoma in experimental mice within a remarkably short period.

The study’s findings collectively underscore the potential of nanomedicine in reshaping cancer therapy paradigms. By ingeniously leveraging nutrient-based nanotechnology to modulate metabolic pathways, this research opens new avenues for personalised cancer treatments that could significantly improve patient outcomes.

Professor Bu, Professor Jin, and their international research team’s pioneering work represents a transformative approach to cancer treatment. Their use of tyrosine nanomicelles to reawaken dormant metabolic pathways in melanoma cells not only inhibits tumour growth but also demonstrates the broader applicability of nutrient-based therapies in combating various types of cancer. This promising advancement not only highlights the power of nanotechnology in medicine but also offers hope for more effective, personalised cancer treatments in the future, inspiring the audience with the potential impact of the work.

More information: Yang Chen et al, Nutrient-delivery and metabolism reactivation therapy for melanoma, Nature Nanotechnology. DOI: 10.1038/s41565-024-01690-6

Journal information: Nature Nanotechnology Provided by University of Technology Sydney