Rah, rah, ROS: metabolic changes caused by loss of adhesion induce cell death.
The high rate of glucose utilization by cancer cells has been well characterized. Recent data suggest that when normal mammary epithelial cells are cultured under nonadherent conditions, glucose consumption decreases, ATP levels fall, and concentrations of reactive oxygen species rise. The rise in reactive oxygen species causes death of nonadherent cells, which can be suppressed with antioxidants. Nonadherent ErbB2-transformed mammary epithelial cells maintain glucose transport and antioxidant production; however, antioxidants appear to enhance anchorage-independent growth. These findings integrate aspects of glucose metabolism, anoikis suppression and antioxidant production in tumor cell biology and suggest that antioxidant therapy could stimulate tumor survival.
Young
Christian D
CD
Department of Pathology, Mailstop 8104, University of Colorado Denver, University of Colorado School of Medicine, P,O, Box 6511, Anshutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. christian.young@ucdenver.edu
Anderson
Steven M
SM
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species