Glutamate and its receptors in cancer

Post by **Amanita Research** » Tue Oct 15, 2019 1:31 pm

Title: Glutamate and its receptors in cancer

Abstract: Glutamate, a nonessential amino acid, is a major bioenergetic substrate for proliferating normal and neoplastic cells on one hand and an excitatory neurotransmitter that is actively involved in biosynthetic, bioenergetic, metabolic, and oncogenic signaling pathways on the other. It exerts its action through a family of receptors consisting of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), both of which have been implicated previously in a broad spectrum of acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss existing data on the role of glutamate as a growth factor for neoplastic cells, the expression of glutamate receptors in various types of benign and malignant neoplasms, and the potential roles that GluRs play in cancer development and progression along with their clinical significance. We conclude that glutamate-related receptors and their signaling pathways may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for a variety of malignant human diseases.

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4133641/

Speculation: Ibotenic acid overexcites GluR causing flood of Ca 2+ in nerve cells. May have chemotheraputic effect if has similar effect here. Alternatively may stimulate cancer growth and proliferation. Status unknown.

Initial research points to the former: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38003 Aspartic Acid (another NMDA Agonist) and it's role in chemotherapy. Need to check others. Only general suspicions at present. See here for more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMDA_receptor#Agonists