Cancer cells form stress granules that enable them to adapt to stress and survive. Research now shows that after drug treatment, hepatocellular carcinoma cells display phase separation mediated by the RIOK1 kinase, which promotes sequestration of PTEN mRNA in stress granules. This activates the pentose phosphate pathway, favoring cell survival.
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Zhong, S., Yin, H. Stress granules shape metabolic reprogramming and drug resistance. Nat Cancer 6, 1129–1130 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-024-00886-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-024-00886-y
