New Discoveries and Honors in Cancer Research

Read the latest cancer research and recognition from the members of the Damon Runyon scientific circle.
February 1, 2011
Altered cell metabolism linked to brain tumor development

Hai Yan, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Scholar’05-‘07) of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, and colleagues, reported that levels of specific metabolites (products of metabolism) were altered by up to 50-fold in brain tumor cells containing mutations in the genes IDH1 and IDH2. Previous studies had identified these genetic mutations in brain tumors; this research links IDH gene mutation to changes in cancer cell metabolism. These findings suggest that IDH mutation could act as a biomarker for diagnosis and could also lead to new improved types of cancer therapeutics. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.