Not expecting the unexpected: diacylglycerol kinase alpha as a cancer target

Cancer Discov. 2013 Jul;3(7):726-7. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-13-0244.

Abstract

In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Dominguez and colleagues identify diacylglycerol kinase alpha (DGKα), an enzyme that converts the membrane lipid diacylglycerol to phosphatidic acid, as a central node upstream of mTOR and other oncogenic pathways. Importantly, targeting DGKα causes apoptosis in cancer cells and tumor growth inhibition in mice with no overt toxicity, implicating DGKα as a novel cancer-specific target.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Diacylglycerol Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Diacylglycerol Kinase / genetics
  • Diacylglycerol Kinase / metabolism*
  • Diglycerides / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Phosphatidic Acids / metabolism

Substances

  • Diglycerides
  • Phosphatidic Acids
  • Diacylglycerol Kinase