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Published on: July 21, 2018
Targeting Metabolism for Cancer Therapy
Alba Luengo1, Dan Y Gui1, Matthew G Vander Heiden2
1The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Abstract:
Metabolic reprogramming contributes to tumor development and introduces metabolic liabilities that can be exploited to treat cancer. Chemotherapies targeting metabolism have been effective cancer treatments for decades, and the success of these therapies demonstrates that a therapeutic window exists to target malignant metabolism. New insights into the differential metabolic dependencies of tumors have provided novel therapeutic strategies to exploit altered metabolism, some of which are being evaluated in preclinical models or clinical trials. Here, we review our current understanding of cancer metabolism and discuss how this might guide treatments targeting the metabolic requirements of tumor cells.
Insights
Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism for growth, creating vulnerabilities exploitable by targeted therapies. Understanding these metabolic dependencies offers new strategies for effective cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Metabolic pathways
- Cancer biology
Background:
- Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, driving tumor development.
- Targeting cancer metabolism with chemotherapy has a long history of success, validating a therapeutic window.
- Altered metabolic dependencies in tumors present novel targets for cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of cancer metabolism.
- To discuss how insights into cancer metabolism can guide the development of new therapeutic strategies.
- To highlight the potential of targeting tumor-specific metabolic liabilities.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of cancer metabolism research.
- Analysis of current therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic pathways.
- Discussion of preclinical and clinical evaluations of novel metabolic therapies.
Main Results:
- Cancer cells exhibit significant metabolic alterations compared to normal cells.
- Exploiting these metabolic differences offers a promising avenue for cancer treatment.
- Several novel therapeutic strategies targeting cancer metabolism are under investigation.
Conclusions:
- Targeting the unique metabolic requirements of tumor cells is a viable therapeutic approach.
- Continued research into cancer metabolism will yield new and improved treatments.
- Exploiting metabolic liabilities represents a key strategy in modern oncology.
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