New Technique Rearranges Tumor Cell Structures to Combat Cancer

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have unveiled a groundbreaking approach to cancer treatment by manipulating the physical structures of tumor cells. In a study published as the November cover story in the journal Trends in Biotechnology, Dr. Jiajie Diao and his team demonstrated how rearranging the location of lipid droplets within cells can enhance the effectiveness of cell starvation as a therapeutic strategy.

Lipid droplets serve as storage reservoirs for fatty acids, playing a critical role in cellular metabolism and signaling. When cells face starvation, these droplets migrate towards mitochondria to provide energy by transferring fatty acids. Dr. Diao likened lipid droplets to “emergency gas cans” that move towards the “car” (mitochondria) when energy levels drop. He noted that targeting cancer cells with starvation techniques is complicated, as these cells also utilize lipid droplets for energy.

To address this challenge, the researchers sought to prevent lipid droplets from relocating to mitochondria during starvation. They engineered a combination of proteins, including a peptide that binds to cancer cell lipid droplets and another that activates under blue light stimulation. This innovative method effectively groups lipid droplets together and immobilizes them, akin to “locking all the gas in the city in one place, far from the car,” according to Dr. Diao. The result is a more profound starvation effect on cancer cells, leading to a slowdown in tumor progression in both cell lines and animal models.

Innovating Cancer Treatments

While the blue light activation method is impractical for patient use due to skin barriers, Dr. Diao is collaborating with experts in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati to develop a new drug. This medication aims to replicate the effects of the engineered peptides, potentially delivering the treatment either as an oral medication or through direct injection into tumors.

Dr. Diao emphasized the significance of this research, stating, “The relationship between lipid droplets and mitochondria needs to be fine-tuned, so we are trying to develop processes to either make them link together or be very far apart.” This pioneering approach to cancer treatment could open new avenues for therapies that target the physical structures within cells, marking it as the first method to address cancer through subcellular physical distribution.

Overall, the implications of this research are profound. By altering how lipid droplets are organized within cancer cells, there is potential for more effective treatments that could improve patient outcomes. Dr. Diao noted that this method represents a unique perspective in the battle against cancer, highlighting the innovative strides being made in biomedical research.

For further details, refer to the study titled “Optogenetic engineering of lipid droplet spatial organization for tumor suppression” authored by Qingjie Bai et al., published in Trends in Biotechnology. The DOI for the study is 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.06.002.