Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA: Indian-origin researcher Siva Kumar Natarajan has identified itaconate as a key metabolic driver in aggressive ZFTA-RELA-positive ependymomas, a rare type of brain tumor. The findings, published in Nature, reveal how these cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to produce itaconate, helping sustain tumor growth.

The University of Michigan research team found that targeting ACOD1, the enzyme responsible for producing itaconate, as well as disrupting glutamine metabolism, reduced tumor growth and improved survival in preclinical models. The study identifies these metabolic pathways as potential targets for future treatments.

However, the findings are currently limited to laboratory experiments and animal models and are not yet an established treatment for patients. Researchers say the discovery provides new insights into the progression of ZFTA-RELA-positive ependymomas and could support the development of more targeted therapies in the future.