Phosphate, essential for life, also fuels tumor growth

Phosphate, a molecule essential for life, is also used by cancer cells to promote tumor growth, according to new research. This process involves degrading ATP, a key energy molecule, to silence immune alarms and create a favorable environment for tumors. Cancer cells use enzymes like CD39 and CD73 to break down extracellular ATP, producing adenosine and inorganic phosphate. Elevated phosphate levels stimulate cancer cells to produce hydrogen peroxide, which activates pathways linked to growth and metastasis. A recent study on liver cancer found that blocking these enzymes reduces cell adhesion and migration. These findings are experimental, based on cell cultures, and treatments are far off. However, researchers believe targeting the tumor microenvironment's phosphate metabolism could disrupt cancer's ability to grow and spread, offering a promising new frontier in cancer therapy.