Glutamine as indispensable nutrient in oncology: experimental and clinical evidence |
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Authors: | Katharina S Kuhn Maurizio Muscaritoli Paul Wischmeyer Peter Stehle |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, IEL-Nutrition Physiology, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, 53115 Bonn, Germany;(2) Department of Clinical Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy;(3) Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA; |
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Abstract: | Background In hypermetabolic situations, glutamine is intensively used by rapidly dividing cells such as enterocytes, lymphocytes, and
fibroblasts as nitrogen source and/or alternative energy fuel. It is hypothesized that in cancer patients the increased glutamine
demands of the host increase the capacity of endogenous production resulting in a strong glutamine deprivation with detrimental
effects on organ functions. In long-term periods of cancer cachexia, an adequate nutrition support including glutamine can
essentially contribute to cover glutamine needs and, thus, to spare energy reserves of the host and to retard severe complications
such as multi-organ failure. Due to the early in vitro knowledge that cancer cells preferably consume glutamine, oncologists
often refuse to supply glutamine to the tumor-bearing host to avoid any potential risk. An objective evaluation whether supplemental
glutamine supports tumor growth in vivo is, however, still lacking. |
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