Resistance to BRAF inhibitors induces glutamine dependency in melanoma cells

BRAF inhibitors can extend progression-free and overall survival in melanoma patients whose tumors harbor mutations in BRAF. However, the majority of patients eventually develop resistance to these drugs. Here we show that BRAF mutant melanoma cells that have developed acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors display increased oxidative metabolism and increased dependency on mitochondria for survival. Intriguingly, the increased oxidative metabolism is associated with a switch from glucose to glutamine metabolism and an increased dependence on glutamine over glucose for proliferation.

Source: Molecular Oncology - August 19, 2015 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Franziska Baenke, Barbara Chaneton, Matthew Smith, Niels Van Den Broek, Kate Hogan, Haoran Tang, Amaya Viros, Matthew Martin, Laura Galbraith, Maria R. Girotti, Nathalie Dhomen, Eyal Gottlieb, Richard Marais Source Type: research