In a groundbreaking study recently published in the prestigious journal Nature, researchers from the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester have uncovered a novel metabolic vulnerability in myeloid leukemias driven by the amino acid taurine. This discovery challenges long-standing assumptions about the role of taurine in human physiology and cancer biology, revealing that leukemia cells exploit taurine from their microenvironment to fuel their aggressive growth. The implications of these findings are vast, offering new therapeutic avenues that could reshape treatment paradigms for several forms of leukemia.
Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, is traditionally viewed as a non-essential compound in mammalian biology, synthesized in the liver and acquired through dietary sources such as meat, fish, and eggs. It is widely consumed via energy drinks and nutritional supplements, often touted for its purported benefits in enhancing physical and cognitive performance. However, the Wilmot team’s data indicate that taurine’s role extends far beyond its conventional understanding. Rather than serving as a benign metabolite, taurine appears to act as a critical metabolic regulator within the bone marrow niche, driving leukemogenesis—the initiation and progression of leukemia.
The study’s principal investigator, Dr. Jeevisha Bajaj, and her collaboration revealed that normal bone marrow stromal cells produce taurine, which leukemia cells themselves cannot synthesize due to a lack of biosynthetic machinery. Instead, malignant hematopoietic cells rely entirely on taurine imported from the microenvironment via a specialized transporter protein encoded by the SLC6A6 gene. This protein functions as a molecular gateway, shuttling taurine into cancer cells where it fuels glycolytic metabolism, the process by which glucose is broken down to generate cellular energy essential for tumor growth.
To probe taurine’s role mechanistically, the researchers utilized cutting-edge genetic editing tools to ablate the taurine transporter’s function in mouse models of myeloid leukemia and in cultured human leukemia samples. These experiments demonstrated a striking suppression of leukemic proliferation when taurine uptake was blocked, highlighting the transporter as a promising target for drug development. The research further elucidated that taurine metabolism promotes glycolysis by upregulating key enzymes involved in this pathway, effectively reprogramming leukemia cells’ energy homeostasis to their advantage.
This novel insight into metabolic reprogramming underscores the complex interplay between leukemia cells and their surrounding niche. The bone marrow microenvironment, a sophisticated ecosystem of cellular and molecular components, profoundly influences malignant progression. By revealing how leukemic cells co-opt taurine from their surroundings, the study pioneers a conceptual shift—viewing the tumor microenvironment not merely as a passive bystander but as an active contributor to cancer metabolism and growth.
Moreover, the study addresses a significant clinical concern regarding the potential risks of taurine supplementation in leukemia patients. Given taurine’s widespread use in dietary supplements and energy products, and even among some cancer patients seeking to alleviate chemotherapy side effects, the findings urge caution. Elevated local taurine levels might inadvertently enhance leukemia progression, raising pertinent questions about the safety of exogenous taurine in individuals with hematologic malignancies.
The metabolic heterogeneity of myeloid leukemias is well-documented, encompassing subtypes such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The research team confirmed that SLC6A6 expression—and by extension, taurine uptake—is universally critical across these diverse disease variants, which originate from stem cells in the bone marrow. This suggests that targeting taurine metabolism may have broad applicability and therapeutic relevance across multiple myeloid neoplasms.
Further adding complexity to the findings is the interplay between metabolism and genetic alterations that govern leukemia biology. Traditionally, therapeutic efforts have centered on the genetic landscape—mutations and chromosomal abnormalities—that drive leukemogenesis. However, metabolic reprogramming, exemplified by the taurine-glycolysis axis, offers a complementary, and perhaps synergistic, target that may overcome resistance mechanisms and improve treatment outcomes.
Interestingly, taurine’s role in cancer appears to be context-dependent. Previous studies, including a recent publication in Cell, investigated taurine’s immune-boosting capacity in gastric cancer, suggesting potential benefits of supplementation in that setting. This dichotomy highlights the nuanced and tissue-specific functions of metabolic regulators and calls for rigorous, disease-specific evaluation of metabolic interventions.
The multidisciplinary nature of the research, encompassing molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, and preclinical modeling, exemplifies modern precision oncology. The collaborative framework included contributions from the Bajaj laboratory, the Rochester Genomics Research Center, and experts in cancer microenvironment and metabolism programs. This collective approach enabled comprehensive molecular characterization and functional dissection of taurine’s role in leukemia.
From a translational standpoint, the study advocates for the development of novel pharmacological inhibitors targeting the taurine transporter or its metabolic pathways. Such agents could selectively disrupt leukemia cells’ energy supply without adversely affecting normal hematopoietic function. Furthermore, monitoring taurine levels in patients might serve as a biomarker for disease progression or treatment response, offering clinical utility beyond direct therapeutic targeting.
As the research community advances toward deciphering the metabolic underpinnings of cancer, this discovery marks a pivotal step in expanding our understanding of the biochemical dependencies of leukemia cells. By illuminating an unexpected role for taurine in supporting malignancy, Wilmot’s study opens new frontiers in cancer metabolism research and reinforces the importance of the tumor microenvironment in disease pathogenesis.
In summary, the Wilmot Cancer Institute’s findings redefine taurine from a benign dietary component to a metabolic instigator of leukemia progression through its promotion of glycolysis within malignant cells. This revelation carries significant ramifications for patient care, supplement use, and future drug discovery programs. While further clinical studies are necessary to translate these findings, the present research offers hope for more effective therapies against aggressive myeloid leukemias, potentially improving survival and quality of life for countless patients worldwide.
Subject of Research: Animals
Article Title: Taurine from tumour niche drives glycolysis to promote leukaemogenesis
News Publication Date: 14-May-2025
Web References:
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09018-7
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cancer-institute
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurine
References: - Bajaj, J. et al. (2025). Taurine from tumour niche drives glycolysis to promote leukaemogenesis. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09018-7
- Sharma, S., Rodems, B., Baker, C., Kaszuba, C., et al.
Image Credits: Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center
Keywords: Taurine, leukemia, glycolysis, tumor microenvironment, myeloid cancers, metabolic reprogramming, SLC6A6 transporter, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, cancer metabolism, bone marrow niche
