Tumor microenvironmental nutrients, cellular responses, and cancer
Graham P Lobel1, Yanqing Jiang1, M Celeste Simon2
1Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Cell Chemical Biology
|September 13, 2023
Summary
Cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment rely on nutrient availability for growth and survival. Understanding nutrient impacts on tumor metabolism offers new therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Metabolism
- Tumor Microenvironment
Background:
- Tumor metabolism reprogramming is crucial for cancer progression.
- Nutrient availability significantly impacts cancer cell metabolic pathways.
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a vital role in supporting malignant transformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of nutrient availability's effects on metabolic reprogramming in cancer.
- To explore how nutrients influence both cancer cells and stromal cells within the TME.
- To identify potential therapeutic vulnerabilities arising from these metabolic interactions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advancements in tumor metabolism.
- Analysis of major examples of nutrient-metabolic pathway interactions.
- Dissection of regulatory mechanisms controlling cellular activity in the TME.
Main Results:
- Nutrient availability profoundly affects metabolic pathways in both cancer and stromal cells.
- Metabolic reprogramming within the TME is essential for tumor growth and progression.
- Specific nutrients and metabolic enzymes regulate the behavior of immune, fibroblastic, and endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
- Understanding nutrient-dependent metabolic reprogramming in the TME is key to cancer treatment.
- Targeting nutrient availability and metabolic pathways presents novel therapeutic opportunities.
- Exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities in the tumor ecosystem can lead to more effective cancer therapies.
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