Differential Reliance on Lipid Metabolism as a Salvage Pathway Underlies Functional Differences of T Cell Subsets in Poor Nutrient Environments.

T cells compete with malignant cells for limited nutrients within the solid tumor microenvironment. We found that effector memory CD4 T cells respond distinctly from other T cell subsets to limiting glucose and can maintain high levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production in a nutrient-poor environment. Unlike naive (T) or central memory T (T) cells, effector memory T (T) cells fail to upregulate fatty acid synthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and reductive glutaminolysis in limiting glucose.

Synergistic Benefit of Statin and Metformin in Gastrointestinal Malignancies.

Objectives: To evaluate whether statin use influences gastrointestinal cancer prognosis in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: We reviewed all DM patients diagnosed at Roswell Park Cancer Institute with emergent gastrointestinal malignancy (January 2003 to December 2010) (N = 222). Baseline demographic, clinical history, and cancer outcomes were documented.