New Compound Targets Cancer Cells by Exploiting Sugar and Fat Metabolism

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed an experimental compound that targets cancer cells by exploiting their high demand for sugar and simultaneously blocking their access to fat as an energy source. This dual-action approach overwhelms cancer cell metabolism, causing many cells to die. The findings were published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.

The compound, known as XJ-4-85, binds to an enzyme called PFKL in cancer cells, accelerating glycolysis, which is the breakdown of sugar. Once bound, it releases another compound that targets the enzyme CPT2, which is responsible for breaking down fatty acids. By increasing sugar consumption and disrupting fatty acid metabolism, the compound suppresses cancer growth.

In laboratory tests, the compound was effective against several types of human cancer cells, including melanoma, leukemia, breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and neuroblastoma. Tests in mice with aggressive melanoma showed that the compound killed most cancer cells while having a minimal effect on noncancerous cells.

The researchers describe this compound as a smaller, fully chemical alternative to antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), which are complex and target only surface proteins of cancer cells. The new compound can target proteins inside cells, making it potentially more versatile and easier to manufacture.

Despite promising results in lab and animal tests, human trials are still a long way off. The researchers are exploring the potential of this approach for other diseases as well, calling these compounds "electrophile-drug conjugates" or EDCs.