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Sweet Stop
17 June 2017

Sweet Stop

Cancer takes many different forms, making it impossible to find a single treatment that is always effective. This diversity extends to how cancerous cells fuel their proliferation, and a better understanding of these differences could help us target specific cancer types. Cells from lung squamous carcinomas (SqCC, pictured) possess very high levels of a protein found in the cell membrane, known as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1, shown in green), compared to cells of lung adenocarcinomas. As its name suggests, GLUT1 allows glucose, a type of sugar, to move from the bloodstream into cells, where it provides energy for chemical reactions. Inhibiting GLUT1 in mouse SqCC cells causes a reduction in tumour growth, suggesting that blocking GLUT1 could be a promising idea for treating squamous carcinomas, which account for one quarter of lung cancers. Meanwhile, the tumours’ dependence on sugar raises the possibility that changes in diet could affect cancer progression.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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