Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Monitoring the Cancer-Immunity Cycle and Exploring Tumor Microenvironment Dynamics
Published on: June 7, 2024
T Cells and Cancer: How Metabolism Shapes Immunity
Barbara Molon1, Bianca Calì1, Antonella Viola1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, Italy.
Abstract:
Tumor microenvironment is characterized by a consistent reduction in oxygen and blood-borne nutrients that significantly affects the metabolism of distinct cell subsets. Immune cells populating malignant lesions need to activate alternative pathways to overcome tumor-prolonged nutrient deprivation. In particular, the metabolic switch occurring in transforming tissues dramatically impacts on tumor-infiltrating T cell biology. Remarkably, the recruitment and activation of T cell within cancers are instrumental for effective antitumor response. Therefore, T cell metabolic adaptation acts as crucial checkpoint hijacked by tumors to dampen antitumor immunity.
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Immunotherapy
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
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
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
The Tumor Microenvironment

