Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells
Published on: November 21, 2018
Survival of the fittest: metabolic adaptations in cancer
Marcelo J Berardi1, Valeria R Fantin
1Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Malignant transformation is often a multistep process characterized by an initial period of avascular growth. Rapid cell proliferation creates areas within the emerging preneoplastic lesion with limited diffusion of oxygen and nutrients. In this context, activation of oncogenes, loss of tumor suppressors as well as additional adaptive mechanisms drive a profound metabolic rewiring to overcome the environmental constraints. The emerging cells are in principle better suited to proliferate and survive in the hostile tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, some of the acquired metabolic traits impact their metastatic behavior and response to therapy. It is becoming increasingly clear that malignant cells are highly dependent on certain nutrients, an Achilles' heel of cancer and an opportunity for therapeutic intervention.
Related Concept Videos
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
Cancer Survival Analysis
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...

