Cancer metabolism within tumor microenvironments
Sho Aki1, Ryuichi Nakahara1, Keisuke Maeda2
1Division of Nutriomics and Oncology, RCAST, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan; Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan.
Tumor microenvironments drive cancer malignancy and drug resistance through metabolic alterations. Targeting cell-cell and organelle-organelle metabolic interactions offers novel therapeutic strategies for improved cancer treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Tumor microenvironments (TMEs) significantly influence cancer heterogeneity and malignancy.
- Factors like hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and acidic pH promote cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis.
- Cancer cell adaptation to TMEs leads to immune evasion, drug resistance, and recurrence, impacting patient prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review metabolic alterations within TMEs.
- To explore cell-to-cell and organelle-to-organelle metabolic interactions in cancer.
- To provide novel insights into cancer therapy targeting these metabolic interactions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of metabolic alterations in TMEs.
- Analysis of cell-cell metabolic crosstalk in cancer.
- Examination of organelle-organelle interactions and their role in metabolic adaptation.
Main Results:
- TMEs induce genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic changes in cancer cells.
- Cell-cell metabolic interactions contribute to cancer malignancy.
- Organelle-organelle interactions are critical for metabolic adaptation to TMEs and represent potential therapeutic targets.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic reprogramming within TMEs is a key driver of cancer malignancy and therapeutic resistance.
- Targeting metabolic interactions, including those between organelles, presents a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.
- Understanding these complex metabolic networks is crucial for developing effective treatments against aggressive cancers.
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