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Updated: Oct 29, 2025
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Combined Conditional Knockdown and Adapted Sphere Formation Assay to Study a Stemness-Associated Gene of Patient-derived Gastric Cancer Stem Cells
Published on: May 9, 2020
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Gastric Cancer Stem Cells: A Glimpse on Metabolic Reprogramming
Martina Addeo1,2, Giuseppina Di Paola1, Henu Kumar Verma1,3
1Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche Gaetano Salvatore Biogem Scarl, Ariano Irpino, Italy.
Frontiers in Oncology
|July 12, 2021
Summary
Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) drive tumor growth and therapy resistance. Targeting their unique metabolic pathways offers a promising strategy for eradicating gastric cancer and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Metabolic Pathways
Background:
- Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
- Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are implicated in GC initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance.
- GCSCs possess self-renewal, high proliferation, and metabolic adaptability crucial for tumor survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the metabolic phenotype supporting GCSC proliferation.
- To explore therapeutic strategies targeting GCSC metabolic pathways.
- To discuss the role of metabolic dysregulation in GCSC function.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on GCSC metabolism.
- Analysis of metabolic pathways critical for GCSC maintenance.
- Overview of compounds targeting cancer stem cell (CSC) metabolism.
Main Results:
- GCSCs exhibit distinct metabolic reprogramming supporting their survival and proliferation.
- Dysregulation of anabolic and catabolic pathways is a hallmark of GCSCs.
- Metabolic targeting presents a viable approach to eliminate GCSCs.
Conclusions:
- Understanding GCSC metabolism is key to developing effective GC therapies.
- Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities of GCSCs can overcome treatment resistance.
- Metabolic interventions hold potential for eradicating tumors by eliminating GCSCs.
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