Vitamin B5 crucial for breast cancer cell growth, study finds

Updated June ⁢27, 2025

Breast cancer cells that express a‍ specific cancer-driving gene heavily depend on vitamin B5 for survival and growth, according to a new study. The‍ research, conducted by scientists ⁤at the Francis Crick Institute, the national Physical Laboratory (NPL), and Imperial College ⁣London, highlights a potential new avenue for therapeutic intervention.

The team, part of the Cancer ⁤Grand Challenges team Rosetta and funded by Cancer Research UK, published their findings in nature Metabolism. Their ‍work focused on the metabolic effects of the Myc gene, a major driver of cancer. When Myc is highly expressed in tumor cells,it disrupts normal cell processes,accelerates growth,and creates a dependence on certain nutrients,including vitamin B5.

researchers created tumors in mice with varying levels ‍of Myc expression. They also transplanted human breast cancer tissue, which also⁣ contained areas with high and low Myc levels, into mice. Using mass spectrometry imaging, they⁣ observed a strong correlation⁣ between vitamin B5 and areas with high‍ Myc expression in ⁣both the mouse and human ⁤tumors. This association was further confirmed in biopsies from breast cancer patients.

The study revealed that Myc increases the quantity of a multivitamin transporter, facilitating greater vitamin B5 entry into cells. Artificially increasing the production of this transporter in cells led to increased vitamin B5⁤ uptake and accelerated cell growth, even in cells with low Myc expression.

When mice were fed a vitamin⁢ B5-deficient diet, the growth of both Myc-low and Myc-high tumors slowed significantly compared to mice⁢ on a standard diet. Similar results were ⁢observed in human ⁤breast cancer ‍tissue transplanted into mice.

Scientists believe vitamin B5’s role in metabolism explains its link to tumor growth. once inside ⁢cells, vitamin B5 converts into coenzyme A, a molecule ‍used in numerous metabolic pathways. This process boosts energy production and the creation of essential ⁣materials like fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, fueling cell growth.

While the ⁣study establishes a connection between vitamin B5 and tumor growth, researchers caution against ‍simply restricting vitamin B5 intake for cancer patients. Vitamins are crucial for the immune system’s ability to fight tumors.The team is now focused on ⁢developing strategies to selectively weaken tumors without compromising the immune system, aiming for better clinical outcomes.

Peter Kreuzaler, former postdoctoral researcher at the Crick and now a group leader at the University of Cologne, noted the importance ⁣of high-resolution imaging techniques. “Previously, tumor metabolism was measured in bulk, and couldn’t⁢ give too many insights into how areas of tumors use molecules like vitamins differently,” Kreuzaler said. “By using a specialised imaging technique with high resolution in ⁣this study, we could see how metabolism differs across a tumour, and that taking away just one vitamin stops a cascade of cancer-driving events.” He added that further research is needed to⁣ assess the impact of ⁣vitamin B5 removal within ⁢a strong immune system.

Mariia Yuneva, senior group leader at the crick, emphasized the complexity of human tumors. “It’s significant we understand the role of different genetic profiles,⁣ and interactions ⁤between⁢ the tumours and the body’s own cells, to design effective therapies targeting tumour metabolism in humans,” Yuneva said.

David Scott, director of Cancer Grand Challenges, praised the⁣ Rosetta team’s work.”It’s‍ fantastic to see how the Rosetta team is applying the mass spectrometry imaging ‍pipeline it has developed to better understand tumour metabolism, ⁢revealing importent insights into the effects of vitamin B5 on tumour growth,” Scott⁣ said.

What’s next

Researchers plan to explore how altering⁢ vitamin levels affects cancer treatment and whether‍ vitamin B5 metabolism can be ⁢used to characterize tumor types and predict treatment response. They are also developing vitamin B5 tracers to identify patients likely to respond to Myc-specific treatments in clinical trials. These efforts aim to refine strategies for targeting⁣ tumor metabolism in breast cancer, perhaps leading to more effective and less toxic therapies.