Research summary
We know that tumour cells can “reprogram” their own metabolisms—and that their ability to do so is essential for cancer to progress. But this reprogramming causes metabolic dependencies, which are a double-edged sword for tumour cells: they can help abnormal cancer cells grow and spread, but also make them more vulnerable to anti-metabolic treatments.
Dr. Étienne Audet-Walsh, Canada Research Chair in Targeting Metabolic Vulnerabilities for the Treatment of Hormone-Sensitive Cancers, is studying how cell metabolism reprogramming works in hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast or prostate cancer. Ultimately, he and his research team hope to develop new, innovative treatments that will work by targeting these cancer cells’ metabolic vulnerabilities.