New research from scientists at the ’s reveals that glutathione—an antioxidant produced naturally in the body and widely marketed as a health supplement—may also serve as a powerful fuel source for cancer cells. , published in Nature, shows that tumors can break down glutathione to support their growth, challenging long-held assumptions about its role in human health.

The research was led by , an associate professor in the , and colleagues including co-first authors Fabio Hecht and Marco Zocchi, both in the Harris Lab. The findings highlight how cancer cells adapt to survive in nutrient-poor environments. While glutathione is widely known for protecting cells from damage, the team found that cancer cells can “hijack” it and use it as a nutrient, particularly in environments where other resources are scarce.

By analyzing human breast tumor samples and preclinical models of breast cancer, the researchers found abundant storage of glutathione, confirming that tumors aggressively consume the antioxidant. They also demonstrated that blocking the cancer’s ability to use glutathione can slow tumor growth.

The findings open new avenues for cancer treatment, particularly approaches aimed at inhibiting a tumor’s ability to use glutathione, without impacting healthy cells. Harris and his team—including Ģą˝´«Ă˝ chemist , the Robert K. Boeckman Jr., and Mary H. Delton Family Distinguished Professor in Organic Chemistry, and , professor in the and an expert in cancer cell metabolism—are exploring ways to refine potential drugs that could inhibit this process and improve outcomes for patients.

At the same time, the researchers emphasize that while antioxidant-rich foods remain important for overall health, supplements that contain high concentrations of glutathione may warrant caution as scientists continue to better understand glutathione’s role in cancer biology.

“Eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables is important. It can control weight, reduce inflammation, and support a healthy immune system,” Harris says. “But people should be cautious about taking supplements in general, particularly glutathione. Taking a pill that is unregulated by the FDA and has a high concentration of glutathione can present risks.”

Read the .

A new study that looks at why long-lived bats do not get cancer has broken new ground about the biological defenses that resist the disease.

, a research team found that four common species of bats have superpowers allowing them to live up to 35 years, which is equal to about 180 human years, without cancer.

The work was led by , the Doris Johns Cherry Professor in the departments of and of , and , a Dean’s Professor of Biology, who are also members of Rochester’s . Their key discoveries on how bats prevent cancer:

• Bats and humans have a gene called p53, a tumor-suppressor that can shut down cancer. (Mutations in p53, limiting its ability to act properly, occur in about half of all human cancers.) A species known as the “little brown” bat—found in Rochester and upstate New York—contains two copies of p53 and has elevated p53 activity compared to humans. High levels of p53 in the body can kill cancer cells before they become harmful in a process known as apoptosis. If levels of p53 are too high, however, p53 eliminates too many cells. But bats have an enhanced system that balances apoptosis effectively.
• An enzyme called telomerase is inherently active in bats, which allows their cells to proliferate indefinitely. This is an advantage in aging because it supports tissue regeneration during aging and injury. If cells divide uncontrollably, though, the higher p53 activity in bats compensates and can remove cancerous cells that may arise.
• Bats have an extremely efficient immune system, knocking out multiple deadly pathogens. This also contributes to bats’ anti-cancer abilities by recognizing and wiping out cancer cells, Gorbunova says. As humans age, the immune system slows, and people tend to get more inflammation (in joints and other organs), but bats are good at controlling inflammation. This intricate system allows them to stave off viruses and age-related diseases.

How does bat research apply to humans?

Cancer is a multistage process and requires many “hits” as normal cells transform into malignant cells. Thus, the longer a person or animal lives, the more likely cell mutations occur in combination with external factors (exposures to pollution and poor lifestyle habits, for instance) to promote cancer.

One surprising thing about the bat study, the researchers say, is that bats do not have a natural barrier to cancer. Their cells can transform into cancer with only two “hits”—and yet because bats possess the other robust tumor-suppressor mechanisms, described above, they survive.

Importantly, the authors confirmed that increased activity of the p53 gene is a good defense against cancer by eliminating cancer or slowing its growth. Several anti-cancer drugs already target p53 activity and more are being studied.

Safely increasing the telomerase enzyme might also be a way to apply their findings to humans with cancer, Seluanov adds, but this was not part of the current study.

Gorbunova and Seluanov co-lead the  at Rochester’s Medical Center. Together, they have built outstanding careers studying the characteristics of long-lived mammals such as naked mole rats and bowhead whales that age well and resist serious diseases.

They also study long-lived humans in collaboration with other institutions, investigating cohorts of people with exceptional longevity to discover which genes and epigenetic factors are overrepresented in these individuals.

The National Institute on Aging supported this research.

Of the estimated 1,500 cancer centers in the United States, the Ģą˝´«Ă˝â€™s is now one of only 73 to have a special designation from the . The NCI recognition places Wilmot in the top 4 percent of cancer centers nationwide.

Admission to this exclusive club certifies that Wilmot is at the forefront of research, community engagement, education, training, and life-saving clinical care. The honor comes with a $10 million research grant (renewable after five years) and access to additional funding only available to NCI-designated centers.

The achievement was no surprise to President Sarah Mangelsdorf. “I happen to think our cancer center is stronger than some of the others who have had their NCI designation for quite a while,” she says. “Every metric shows we’re first-class: the number of clinical trials, the number of patients we serve, faculty we’ve hired, research grants—there is no doubt about the great work happening here.”

Everything that resulted in this coveted designation is the product of an effort that began in March 2016.

To meet the rigors of the NCI designation process, which are unmatched in medicine, Wilmot restructured its entire organization, developed a bold strategic plan, doubled its research funding, and adopted a workplace culture that emphasizes collaboration over individual performance. It also initiated new programs in education, training, and community outreach and went on a multiyear recruiting frenzy that brought in 30 oncology stars—many of whom were at NCI-designated centers—to lead basic and clinical research teams. These moves culminated in a demanding, monthslong evaluation process—including an on-site NCI visit—which scrutinized a 1,300-page application describing every aspect of the cancer center’s operations, leadership, strategy, and research programs.

“It’s an extraordinary moment in the history of the cancer center,” says Wilmot director , who led the efforts to achieve NCI designation. “We view this as major validation and a new beginning that unlocks progress in many areas. But we’re not sitting on our laurels.”

Wilmot will enjoy the clinical cachet that comes with an NCI designation, but the backbone of this distinction is the institute’s . The reason is simple: Treatments depend on it.

Cancer care has become more complex, and it can take years for the most modern and sought-after treatments, such as immunotherapies, to reach cancer clinics across the country. But NCI centers are hardwired to be at the forefront—a fact that carries significant weight for western and central New York, where cancer rates are inordinately high.

If the 27-county region Wilmot serves were a state, it would have the second highest incidence of cancer in the United States, behind Kentucky. That doesn’t mean that living in this area puts a person at greater risk of cancer. Instead, the rates are indicative of an aging population, tobacco use, sedentary lifestyles (compared to state and national averages), and challenges to accessing health care in rural and urban areas, including poverty.

The University’s cancer center is the only one in the region equipped to study and reverse this disturbing trend. And, as an NCI-designated center, Wilmot is also better positioned to address complex patient needs. The reason? Research.

Wilmot is investing in an important initiative called Developmental Therapeutics (DT) to help turn scientific discoveries into treatments faster and more efficiently. Even among NCI-designated centers, DT is rare. Friedberg’s vision is for Wilmot to become a DT leader, making it an elite program among the most elite cancer centers. Efforts are underway to recruit someone to lead the program and fund specialized laboratories. Moving this function in-house will allow Wilmot scientists and fellow researchers across the University to more rapidly evaluate new cancer therapies. It would also involve recruiting experts with the training, experience, and distinct skills to design first-in-human clinical trials.

“When you invest in the scientific mission, there’s a massive halo effect that spills over to patient care,” Friedberg says. “It’s a thrilling place to be right now—for research and for patients.”

A version of this story appears in the spring 2025 issue of Rochester Review, the magazine of the Ģą˝´«Ă˝.