title: Novel ways to target brain tumour metabolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glioblastoma remains a highly aggressive primary brain cancer with very poor prognosis. The detection of mutations in the metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase in gliomas, has broadened our view of tumourigenic mechanisms. Together with renewed awareness of tumour-specific energy metabolism, research is pointed towards novel ways for targeting brain cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper reviews recent knowledge on the possible tumourigenic mechanism of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase, and provides a detailed overview of cancer-specific metabolic enzymes associated with glycolysis and intracellular pH regulation. It also discusses available drugs that may serve as a basis for novel drug development to target metabolic transformation in gliomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the fact that energy metabolism is a very basic cellular process, tumour specific alterations in key metabolic processes represent promising targets for glioma treatment. Novel therapies against gliomas, including those that target metabolic transformation, need to consider the genetic background of the individual tumours, to allow the correlation of treatment response with the underlying biological status, both in preclinical and clinical studies.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Public de la Santé (CRP-Santé), Oncology Department , NorLux Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stieber
authors.forename: Siti A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Abdul Rahim
authors.forename: Simone P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Niclou
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase