70 Quick summary: University of Guelph scientists have discovered that acute myeloid leukaemia cells possess a rigid metabolic dependency on a specific fat processing pathway, making them highly vulnerable to targeted intervention. By using a compound derived from the jojoba plant to block the gateway protein facilitating this process, researchers successfully destroyed cancer cells while allowing healthy blood cells to survive unharmed. This breakthrough provides a vital foundation for public policy and healthcare practice by opening a promising new avenue for oncology drug development that could deliver more precise therapies with significantly fewer side effects. Scientists at the University of Guelph have identified a potential new way to target Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) by exploiting the cancer cells’ rigid dependence on a specific fat metabolism pathway. A compound derived from jojoba, a plant commonly used in skincare products, shows promise in blocking this process and killing leukaemia cells while sparing healthy ones. The findings are published in the journal Blood. At a basic level, all cells need energy to survive, but healthy cells can switch between different energy sources depending on what is available. A research team led by Dr Paul Spagnuolo in the Department of Food Science has discovered that leukaemia cells are far less flexible, relying heavily on breaking down a specific type of fat using a part of the cell called the peroxisome. “Think of it like a fuel system,” says Spagnuolo. “Healthy cells are hybrid cars that can switch energy sources. Leukaemia cells, on the other hand, are locked into one fuel type to survive.” The team found that leukaemia cells produce unusually high levels of a protein called ABCD1, which acts as a gateway allowing specific fats to be processed. “This protein is significantly higher in leukaemia cells than in normal, healthy blood cells,” says Spagnuolo. Dr Spagnuolo’s team was the first to develop a compound that blocks this fat-to-fuel process in cancer cells. Derived from jojoba, a plant native to the Sonoran Desert, the compound targets the ABCD1 protein directly. “When we inhibited the ABCD1 protein, the leukaemia cells could no longer process the fats they depend on,” says Spagnuolo. “The fats built up inside the cells, ultimately causing the cancer cells to die.” In testing, healthy cells adapted by switching to an alternative energy source and continued to survive, demonstrating the selective effect researchers look for in cancer treatment. Results showed reduced leukaemia and longer survival without major side effects. Current AML treatments, while improved in recent years, still carry significant toxicity and many patients relapse. Targeted therapies addressing metabolic dependencies like this could offer more precise options with fewer side effects. The research forms part of Dr Spagnuolo’s broader work on plant-based nutraceuticals as potential cancer therapies, including separate investigations into how an avocado compound might inhibit leukaemia cells. “This is a great example of how research in agriculture and food science can have far-reaching impacts beyond what people might expect,” says Spagnuolo. “We’re connecting plant-based compounds to potential cancer therapies.” Dr Spagnuolo is clear that the findings do not point to dietary solutions. “This research is not about diet or nutrition changes, and it does not suggest that eating certain foods can treat or prevent leukemia. Instead, it represents a promising direction for future drug development.” His next step is to refine the jojoba compound into a candidate drug for human trials. While the study focused on AML, the same metabolic pathway is used by several other cancer types, raising the possibility that similar treatments could one day benefit patients with other cancers. AML affects thousands of people in the UK each year, with survival rates remaining particularly challenging for older patients. The University of Guelph team emphasises that this remains preclinical research, but the selective toxicity observed provides a strong foundation for further drug development.