Polyamines fuel cancer via eIF5A2, Tokyo study finds
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- Polyamines are essential for cell growth and autophagy through eIF5A1, a protein linked to healthy aging and longevity processes
- Cancer cells exhibit elevated polyamine levels, which drive aggressive tumor growth by promoting metabolic reprogramming toward aerobic glycolysis
- eIF5A2, a protein 84% identical to eIF5A1, is activated by polyamines in tumors and associated with cancer progression, unlike its counterpart
- Tokyo University researchers conducted large-scale proteomic analysis to uncover distinct molecular pathways explaining the divergent roles of eIF5A1 and eIF5A2
- The study clarifies the mechanism by which polyamines switch from supporting cellular health to enabling cancer metabolism via selective activation of eIF5A2
Why it matters: This discovery shifts the understanding of polyamines from a paradox in aging and cancer to a mechanistically explained duality, with eIF5A2 as a potential therapeutic target. Patients considering spermidine supplements may face new risk considerations, as unchecked polyamine activity could promote tumor metabolism in pre-cancerous or cancerous cells.
