Blocking a zinc protein slowed brain tumor growth in lab tests
Original title: Silencing of solute carrier family 39 member 8 exerts antitumor effects in glioma by inducing ferroptosis via the zinc-dependent CREB/GPX4 pathway.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done on cells in a lab, not in people. It is a very early step.
This was only done in lab cells and in mice.
The short version
In lab dishes and mice, turning off a protein called SLC39A8 made glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary cells die.
What was studied. Researchers studied a protein called SLC39A8 in glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary. They tested glioma cells in the lab and grew glioma tumors in mice.
What they found. glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary tumors had higher levels of SLC39A8 than normal. When the team turned the protein off, the cancer cells were harmed and tumor growth slowed in mice. Adding the protein back reversed those effects.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This points to a possible new target for glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are graded 1 to 4 by how fast they tend to grow. See the glossary drugs. Right now it only helps scientists understand how glioma cells stay alive.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean there is a new treatment. The work was done in cells and in mice, not in people. No one has shown it is safe or that it helps patients. It is not a promise of a cure, and no drug from this exists today.
Source: PubMed, August 29, 2026 · Read the original
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