Cancer Stem Cells Have an "Energy Addiction" – and Scientists Found a Way To Exploit It

University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center researchers identified that high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) stem cells have an unusual dependence on the NAD salvage pathway and the enzyme NAMPT to generate energy, creating a potential metabolic vulnerability that could be targeted to selectively attack cancer cells while sparing healthy stem cells.

The findings are in laboratory research; clinical development will require further testing to confirm safety and efficacy in patients.