Dr. Yamada, CSO, Gave an Educational Lecture at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology
L-Glucose: Its Role in Cancer, Recent Advances, and Potential in Cytodiagnosis
L-glucose, the mirror-image isomer of the ubiquitous energy source D-glucose, was long presumed to be absent in nature and completely unmetabolizable. However, recent studies have challenged this dogma by demonstrating that certain bacteria thrive on L-glucose and that specific plants contain it. Notably, while normal cells cannot utilize this isomer, a distinct subset of cancer cells capable of metabolizing L-glucose demonstrate high metastatic potential upon transplantation into animal models. Imaging these cells via fluorescent visualization of L-glucose has proven highly effective for tumor detection, with promising applications in diagnostic cytology. This cross-species, nutrient-based approach sheds new light on cancer heterogeneity. By focusing on the metabolic relationships between tumor cells and their microenvironment—including endogenous microorganisms—this research offers a novel perspective for both understanding and controlling malignancy.