Rochester, New York – A recent study has linked taurine, an amino acid our bodies naturally produce and found in various foods, to the progression of blood and bone marrow cancers, specifically leukemia.
The research, led by Zivisha Bajaj from the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute, discovered that taurine is generated by certain healthy cells in the bone marrow, where leukemia originates. Since leukemia cells can’t synthesize taurine on their own, they depend on other genes to source it and transport it to themselves.
The team managed to halt leukemia growth in both mouse and human cells by adopting genetic techniques that blocked taurine from entering these cancer cells.
“We’re really excited about these findings because they indicate that targeting taurine intake by myeloid leukemia cells could serve as a new treatment avenue for these aggressive cancers,” Bajaj stated in a May press release from the Rochester Medical Center.
The research revealed that when leukemia cells absorb taurine, they enhance the breakdown of glucose, which fuels cancer growth. Prior studies didn’t specifically connect taurine to cancer processes.
Where is taurine generally found?
The researchers noted that taurine is naturally present in the bone marrow, brain, heart, and muscles. It’s also present in foods like meat, fish, eggs, as well as in energy drinks and protein supplements.
What’s next for taurine research?
Before this study, another article from the University of Rochester posited that taurine supplements might aid gastric cancer patients by bolstering the immune system.
Oncologists from Wilmot believe more investigation is needed to unravel how leukemia cells are reprogrammed to acquire energy and resist treatments.
“Given that taurine is a common component in energy drinks and is frequently used to mitigate chemotherapy side effects, our findings suggest a careful evaluation of the potential benefits of taurine supplements in leukemia patients,” the Wilmott team mentioned.
Bajaj emphasized the importance of future studies to analyze taurine levels in individuals with leukemia.
“Our current data implies that developing stable and effective strategies to block taurine from entering leukemia cells may be beneficial,” she concluded.
