How Energy Waves on Cell Membranes Influence Cancer Progression

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified distinctive energy-producing waves on the membranes of cancer cells, deepening understanding of how these cells fuel their rapid growth and spread. These waves are generated by enzymes that process glucose, and their rhythmic propagation on the cell surface appears to play a significant role in cancer progression.

The team suggests that quantifying these energy waves could help stage cancers more universally, regardless of cancer subtype or genetic variation. According to Peter Devreotes, senior author on the study published in Nature Communications, “Our findings suggest a correlation between higher levels of the energy-producing waves and a greater severity of the cancer, or the cancer’s potential to spread to other organs.”

The study builds on the known Warburg effect, where cancer cells favor glycolysis—a less efficient energy pathway—over oxidative phosphorylation. First author David Zhan, notes, “That appears to be a paradox for cancer because cancer cells need much more energy to grow than normal cells.” Traditionally, glycolysis was thought to occur evenly throughout the cell’s cytosol. However, the team discovered that in cancer cells, glycolytic enzymes cluster and move in organized waves on the membrane, suggesting a more controlled energy production process. Zhan remarks, “This finding may challenge the canonical textbook knowledge that we all learn from the biochemistry course.”

To investigate further, the team compared normal breast duct cells with breast cancer cells, tagging glycolytic enzymes with fluorescent markers. They observed that cancer cells had abundant membrane-bound enzymes moving in waves, while normal cells did not. More aggressive cancers exhibited more waves. Measurements showed that higher ATP levels—the cell’s energy “currency”—were linked to more aggressive cancer subtypes. 

Similar patterns were found in pancreatic, lung, colon, and liver cancer cell lines. Disrupting these waves with Latrunculin A reduced ATP production by 25%, highlighting cancer cells’ dependence on this mechanism. Zhan concludes, “When we inhibit the activity of these waves, we may be able to stop these cancer cells from being able to consume nutrients and grow.” 

Future research will explore how these waves originate within the membrane.