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Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines
Published on: March 17, 2023
Metabolic reprogramming and disease progression in cancer patients
Laura Torresano1, Cristina Nuevo-Tapioles1, Fulvio Santacatterina1
1Departamento de Biología Molecular, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CSIC-UAM), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28049 Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Genomics has contributed to the treatment of a fraction of cancer patients. However, there is a need to profile the proteins that define the phenotype of cancer and its pathogenesis. The reprogramming of metabolism is a major trait of the cancer phenotype with great potential for prognosis and targeted therapy. This review overviews the major changes reported in the steady-state levels of proteins of metabolism in primary carcinomas, paying attention to those enzymes that correlate with patients' survival. The upregulation of enzymes of glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, lipogenesis, glutaminolysis and the antioxidant defense is concurrent with the downregulation of mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation, emphasizing the potential of mitochondrial metabolism as a promising therapeutic target in cancer. We stress that high-throughput quantitative expression profiling of differentially expressed proteins in large cohorts of carcinomas paired with normal tissues will accelerate translation of metabolism to a successful personalized medicine in cancer.
Insights
Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism, upregulating glycolysis and downregulating oxidative phosphorylation. Profiling these metabolic protein changes offers new avenues for targeted cancer therapy and personalized medicine.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Genomics has advanced cancer treatment but protein profiling is needed to understand cancer phenotype and pathogenesis.
- Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer with significant prognostic and therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review major protein expression changes in cancer metabolism.
- To identify metabolic enzymes correlating with patient survival.
- To highlight the potential of targeting cancer metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Review of reported steady-state protein levels in primary carcinomas.
- Analysis of metabolic enzymes linked to patient survival.
Main Results:
- Upregulation of glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, lipogenesis, glutaminolysis, and antioxidant defense enzymes.
- Downregulation of mitochondrial proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation.
- Identification of specific metabolic enzymes associated with patient outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Cancer metabolism exhibits distinct protein expression patterns.
- Mitochondrial metabolism presents a promising therapeutic target.
- High-throughput protein profiling in large cohorts can advance personalized cancer medicine.
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