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Updated: Aug 2, 2025

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
The metabolic cross-talk between cancer and T cells
Silvia Cadenas-De Miguel1, Giulia Lucianer1, Ilaria Elia1
1Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract:
The metabolic cross-talk between cancer cells and T cells dictates cancer formation and progression. These cells possess metabolic plasticity. Thus, they adapt their metabolic profile to meet their phenotypic requirements. However, the nutrient microenvironment of a tumor is a very hostile niche in which these cells are forced to compete for the available nutrients. The hyperactive metabolism of tumor cells often outcompetes the antitumorigenic CD8+ T cells while promoting the protumorigenic exhausted CD8+ T cells and T regulatory (Treg) cells. Thus, cancer cells elude the immune response and spread in an uncontrolled manner. Identifying the metabolic pathways necessary to shift the balance from a protumorigenic to an antitumorigenic immune phenotype is essential to potentiate antitumor immunity.
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