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Updated: Jun 5, 2025
Author Spotlight: Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines
Published on: March 17, 2023
Metabolic reprogramming, sensing, and cancer therapy
Youxiang Mao1, Ziyan Xia1, Wenjun Xia1
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China.
Abstract:
The metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells is a crucial strategy for their survival and proliferation, involving tissue- and condition-dependent remodeling of certain metabolic pathways. While it has become increasingly clear that tumor cells integrate extracellular and intracellular signals to adapt and proliferate, nutrient and metabolite sensing also exert direct or indirect influences, although the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Furthermore, metabolic changes not only support the rapid growth and dissemination of tumor cells but also promote immune evasion by metabolically "educating" immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent studies have highlighted the profound impact of metabolic reprogramming on the TME and the potential of targeting metabolic pathways as a therapeutic strategy, with several enzyme inhibitors showing promising results in clinical trials. Thus, understanding how tumor cells alter their metabolic pathways and metabolically remodel the TME to support their survival and proliferation may offer new strategies for metabolic therapy and immunotherapy.
Insights
Tumor cells reprogram metabolism for survival and immune evasion. Understanding these metabolic changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) offers new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Metabolism
- Immunology
Background:
- Tumor cells exhibit metabolic reprogramming crucial for survival and proliferation.
- Tumor cells integrate extracellular/intracellular signals, with nutrient sensing influencing mechanisms.
- Metabolic alterations in tumor cells contribute to immune evasion within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells.
- To understand the influence of nutrient sensing on tumor cell adaptation.
- To explore the role of metabolic changes in immune evasion and TME remodeling.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on cancer metabolism and TME.
- Analysis of signaling pathways involved in metabolic adaptation.
- Investigation of immune cell metabolic education within the TME.
Main Results:
- Metabolic reprogramming is essential for tumor cell survival, proliferation, and dissemination.
- Tumor cells metabolically educate immune cells in the TME, promoting immune evasion.
- Targeting metabolic pathways shows promise as a therapeutic strategy, with enzyme inhibitors in clinical trials.
Conclusions:
- Understanding tumor metabolic reprogramming and TME remodeling is key for developing novel therapies.
- Targeting cancer metabolism offers potential for combined metabolic therapy and immunotherapy.
- Further research into metabolic pathways could unveil new strategies against cancer growth and spread.
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