It is widely accepted that tumors alter glucose uptake to support anabolic processes required for rapid cell proliferation. Many more metabolic pathways continue to be recognized as dysregulated in cancer cells, many of which produce “onco-metabolites” with novel or unknown functions. As an example, tumors that require the serine biosynthesis pathway support the production multiple metabolites with unclear roles in tumor growth^1,2. Our lab is using proteomics and metabolomics techniques to understand the functions of these metabolites and their contribution to tumor development.

1. Murphy JP, Giacomantonio M, Paulo JA, Everley RA, Kennedy BE, Pathak GP, Clements DR, Kim Y, Dai C, Sharif T, Gygi SP, Gujar S. (2018). The NAD+ salvage pathway supports PHGDH-driven serine biosynthesis. Cell Reports. 24(9): 2381-2391.
2. Kennedy BE, Murphy JP, Clements D, Konda P, Holay N, Kim Y, Giacomantonio M, Gujar S. (2019). Inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase enhances the antitumor efficacy of oncolytic reovirus. Cancer Res. 79(15): 3824-3836.