Cancer Metabolism and Resistance to Cell Death: Novel Therapeutic Perspectives

Francesco Ciccarese1,2

  • 1Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, 35128 Padova, Italy.

Biomedicines
|August 26, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells exhibit deregulated metabolism and resistance to cell death. This study explores the intricate links between metabolic reprogramming and apoptosis evasion in cancer progression.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Metabolism

Background:

  • Cancer is characterized by metabolic reprogramming, enabling rapid proliferation.
  • Resistance to programmed cell death (apoptosis) is crucial for tumor survival and progression.

Discussion:

  • Investigates the interplay between altered metabolic pathways and the evasion of apoptosis in cancer.
  • Explores how metabolic shifts support cancer cell survival and resistance to death signals.
  • Highlights the potential of targeting metabolic vulnerabilities to overcome therapeutic resistance.

Key Insights:

  • Metabolic dysregulation directly contributes to enhanced cancer cell survival.
  • Specific metabolic pathways are critical for maintaining resistance to apoptosis.
  • Understanding these links offers novel therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Outlook:

  • Future research should focus on dissecting specific molecular mechanisms.
  • Developing targeted therapies that simultaneously address metabolic and apoptotic pathways.
  • Translating these findings into effective clinical interventions for various cancers.

Related Concept Videos

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.9K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.1K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.4K
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
7.9K
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
5.0K