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Feb 21 2025
1In a groundbreaking study, scientists at New York University have discovered that cancer cells rely on cooperation, not just competition, to survive in nutrient-deficient environments. This surprising finding reveals how tumors grow and persist, offering a potential pathway for more effective cancer therapies.
Led by Dr. Carlos Carmona-Fontaine, the research team observed that when deprived of essential nutrients like glutamine, cancer cells collaborate to obtain what they need. Unlike previous assumptions that tumor progression is solely driven by the strongest cells outcompeting others, the study shows that cancer cells pool resources, enhancing overall survival.
The mechanism behind this cooperation lies in oligopeptides—protein fragments outside the cells. Tumor cells secrete an enzyme called CNDP2, which breaks these oligopeptides into free amino acids. This process happens externally, creating a shared nutrient pool accessible to all surrounding cancer cells, effectively allowing them to "feed" as a collective.
The researchers tested the role of CNDP2 by using bestatin, a drug known to inhibit this enzyme. The results were striking—cancer cells unable to break down oligopeptides starved and died, unless supplemented with external nutrients. Further experiments involved removing the CNDP2 gene using CRISPR technology. Tumors lacking this enzyme grew significantly slower in mice, especially when combined with low-amino-acid diets.
This discovery highlights that cooperation among tumor cells is an evolutionary strategy for survival, particularly in challenging environments. By targeting CNDP2, scientists believe it’s possible to disrupt this collective feeding process, halting tumor growth without severely affecting healthy cells.
Dr. Carmona-Fontaine emphasized the clinical significance of these findings: “Understanding how cancer cells help each other survive opens the door to treatments that break this cooperation, potentially stopping tumors in their tracks.”
The study not only reshapes our understanding of tumor biology but also offers a promising new direction for cancer therapy—targeting the teamwork that helps cancer thrive.
