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Cellular Adaptation Takes Advantage of Atavistic Regression Programs during Carcinogenesis
Davide Gnocchi1, Dragana Nikolic1, Rosa Rita Paparella1
1Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Cancers
|August 12, 2023
Summary
Cancer cells adapt to harsh microenvironments by reverting to primitive traits, impacting energy production and drug resistance. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms is key for developing new cancer therapies and early detection biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Cancer Metabolism
Background:
- Cancer cells exhibit remarkable resilience due to adaptation to extreme microenvironments like hypoxia, acidity, and nutrient scarcity.
- Neoplastic transformation is viewed as an extreme adaptive response to chronic tissue injury or damage.
- The Systemic-Evolutionary Theory of the Origin of Cancer (SETOC) proposes cancer cells revert to primitive, embryo-like or single-celled organism characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how microenvironmental changes influence cancer cell energy metabolism and drug sensitivity.
- To explore the concept of 'atavistic' biologic features in cancer adaptation.
- To highlight potential metabolism-based therapeutic strategies and early detection biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Focus on the impact of microenvironmental shifts on cancer cell energy production.
- Analysis of metabolic flexibility in cancer cells.
- Review of literature on cancer cell adaptation and metabolic reprogramming.
Main Results:
- Microenvironmental changes can induce a metabolic shift in cancer cells, often towards lactic acid fermentation from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).
- This metabolic shift towards 'atavistic' features can enhance cancer cell robustness and contribute to drug resistance.
- Altered metabolism is a key factor in cancer cell adaptation and resilience.
Conclusions:
- Cancer cell adaptation involves metabolic flexibility and a potential reversion to primitive metabolic pathways.
- Understanding these metabolic adaptations is crucial for overcoming treatment resistance.
- Metabolism-based pharmacological approaches and novel biomarkers offer promising avenues for cancer treatment and early detection.
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