Glutamine and cancer: cell biology, physiology, and clinical opportunities — Hensley, 2013

This article reviews the role of glutamine, an amino acid, in cancer cell metabolism. The authors discuss how cancer cells rely on glutamine to support their rapid growth and proliferation, and how targeting glutamine metabolism may be a promising strategy for cancer therapy. The article also covers the cellular mechanisms by which glutamine is utilized in cancer cells, including the contribution of glutamine to ATP production, biosynthesis of macromolecules, and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, the authors describe the various clinical approaches that have been developed to target glutamine metabolism in cancer cells, such as glutaminase inhibitors and glutamine analogs. These approaches have shown promise in preclinical studies and clinical trials, suggesting that targeting glutamine metabolism may be a promising avenue for cancer therapy. Overall, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the role of glutamine in cancer cell metabolism and highlights the potential clinical opportunities for targeting glutamine metabolism as a cancer therapy.

J Clin Invest. 2013;123(9):3678-3684. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI69600.