SCIENTISTS have discovered a molecule that impedes the growth of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
SU212 is a small molecule derived from aza-podophyllotoxin that inhibits enolase 1 (ENO1), a glycolytic enzyme that is overexpressed by cancer cells and plays a key role in cancer metabolism.
SU212 also enhanced liver health and slowed tumour growth in diabetic mice.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Approximately 15% of breast cancers are triple-negative.
It is an aggressive cancer type that develops more frequently in women under 40-years-old and is more common in Black women than White.
TNBC progression tends to be faster, it is more likely to have spread at the point of diagnosis, and it is more likely to recur after treatment than other types of breast cancer.
The 5-year survival rate for TNBC is: 92% for localised TNBC, 67% for regional, and 15% for distant.
SU212 Inhibits ENO1
ENO1 overexpression shows a correlation with tumour growth and worse general survival rates across breast, lung, colorectal, and other cancers.
In binding to ENO1 and inducing its degradation, SU212 reduces the glycolytic activity and glucose uptake of tumour cells.
Ultimately, it therefore suppresses tumour growth and metastasis in syngeneic, genetic, and patient-derived xenograft models of triple-negative breast cancer, researchers reported.
In diabetic mice, SU212 also showed strong anti-tumour efficacy, improved fatty liver conditions, and lowered blood glucose levels.
Implications for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors noted that other glycolytic enzyme inhibitors have previously been limited by toxicity.
SU212, however, exhibited a favourable drug-like profile with minimal toxicity and no interference with key biological systems.
It therefore has the potential to hinder cancer metabolism whilst addressing metabolic disorders, representing a significant advance in approaches to cancer therapy.
Researchers reported that using SU212 to target ENO1 offers an effective strategy for the management of triple-negative breast cancer by exploiting tumour cell’s metabolic vulnerabilities.
References
Tailor D et al. Non-orthosteric inhibition of enolase 1 impedes growth of triple-negative breast cancer. Cell. 2025;6(11):DOI:10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102451.
Cancer Research UK. Triple negative breast cancer. 2023. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/types/triple-negative-breast-cancer. Last accessed: 22 March 2026.
American Cancer Society. Triple-negative breast cancer. 2025. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/types-of-breast-cancer/triple-negative.html. Last accessed: 22 March 2026.
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