COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF TREATING AND DIAGNOSING HEPATOMA

摘要

Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating hepatoma by administering to patients or other populations of cells agents that selectively inhibit the uptake of glutamine by hepatocarcinoma cells, causing the concomitant apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells. Preferred agents target the amino acid transporter B0 (ATB0) protein for inhibition. Disclosed are antisense polynucleotides that reduce the expression of ATB0 in hepatocarcinoma cells, causing those cells to reduce the uptake of glutamine and subsequently undergo selective apoptosis.