AUTHOR=Fan Yuxin , Xue Han , Li Zhimin , Huo Mingge , Gao Hongxia , Guan Xingang 

TITLE=Exploiting the Achilles’ heel of cancer: disrupting glutamine metabolism for effective cancer treatment

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1345522

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1345522

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Cancer cells have adapted to rapid tumor growth and evade immune attack by reprogramming their metabolic pathways. Glutamine is an important nitrogen resource for synthesizing amino acids and nucleotides and an important carbon source in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and lipid biosynthesis pathway. In this review, we summarize the significant role of glutamine metabolism in tumor development and highlight the vulnerabilities of targeting glutamine metabolism for effective therapy. In particular, we review the reported drugs targeting glutaminase and glutamine uptake for efficient cancer treatment. Moreover, we discuss the current clinical test about targeting glutamine metabolism and the prospective direction of drug development.</p>