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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Extraction of Aqueous Metabolites from Cultured Adherent Cells for Metabolomic Analysis by Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 9, 2019
Bridging the gap: advancing cancer cell culture to reveal key metabolic targets
Marjolein M G Kes1,2, Celia R Berkers2, Jarno Drost1
1Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Abstract:
Metabolic rewiring is a defining characteristic of cancer cells, driving their ability to proliferate. Leveraging these metabolic vulnerabilities for therapeutic purposes has a long and impactful history, with the advent of antimetabolites marking a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment. Despite this, only a few in vitro metabolic discoveries have been successfully translated into effective clinical therapies. This limited translatability is partially due to the use of simplistic in vitro models that do not accurately reflect the tumor microenvironment. This Review examines the effects of current cell culture practices on cancer cell metabolism and highlights recent advancements in establishing more physiologically relevant in vitro culture conditions and technologies, such as organoids. Applying these improvements may bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo findings, facilitating the development of innovative metabolic therapies for cancer.
Insights
Cancer cells rewire metabolism for growth. New research explores advanced cell culture models to improve the translation of metabolic discoveries into effective cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Metabolic pathways
- Cancer cell biology
Background:
- Metabolic rewiring is crucial for cancer cell proliferation.
- Antimetabolites represent a historical success in cancer therapy.
- Limited translation of in vitro metabolic discoveries to clinical practice exists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of current cell culture techniques on cancer metabolism.
- To highlight advancements in physiologically relevant in vitro models.
- To bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo findings for metabolic cancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on cancer cell metabolism and in vitro models.
- Analysis of the effects of cell culture practices on metabolic phenotypes.
- Exploration of emerging technologies like organoids for improved modeling.
Main Results:
- Simplistic in vitro models fail to replicate the tumor microenvironment accurately.
- Current cell culture practices can significantly alter cancer cell metabolism.
- Advanced models like organoids offer more physiologically relevant insights.
Conclusions:
- Improving in vitro models is essential for successful translation of metabolic discoveries.
- Physiologically relevant models can enhance the development of novel metabolic cancer treatments.
- Organoids and similar technologies hold promise for future cancer therapy research.
