Biotin-Dependent Route Reveals Cancer’s Hidden Glutamine Bypass

Scientists at the University of Lausanne found that some cancers can keep growing with low glutamine by using a biotin-dependent pathway via pyruvate carboxylase. When the FBXW7 gene is mutated, this bypass is diminished, making cells more glutamine-dependent and explaining resistance to anti-glutamine therapies. The work suggests designing treatments that target multiple metabolic pathways at once.