Integrating Metabolic Modulation and Nanomedicine for Cancer Immunotherapy
Xiaosu Zhou1, Ruibing Deng1, Zunde Liao1
1College of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 511443, China.
Abstract:
Cancer cells undergo significant metabolic reprogramming to support rapid growth, survival under stress, and resistance to therapies. As our understanding of tumor metabolism and the tumor microenvironment (TME) deepens, there is growing interest in exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities as therapeutic strategies. This review explores key alterations in metabolic pathways, including glucose, amino acid, lipid, nucleotide metabolism, and mitochondrial function, and highlights their impact on tumor progression, the TME, and immune cell function. In addition, the review discusses emerging strategies aimed at targeting these metabolic pathways with a focus on nanomaterial-based therapies. This includes the use of nanoparticles and drug delivery systems designed to modulate immunometabolism within cancer. These innovative approaches aim to reprogram the TME, enhance immune responses, and improve the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor sites, offering new ways to overcome conventional therapeutic resistance. Finally, the review also addresses the foreseeable challenges and potential future developments in this field, outlining the opportunities and obstacles that must be addressed for the clinical translation of these strategies in cancer therapy.
Insights
Cancer cells reprogram metabolism to grow and resist treatment. Targeting these metabolic vulnerabilities, especially with nanomaterial-based therapies, offers new strategies to fight cancer and improve immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Metabolism
- Immunometabolism
Background:
- Cancer cells exhibit significant metabolic reprogramming to fuel rapid growth, survival, and therapeutic resistance.
- Understanding tumor metabolism and the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.
- Metabolic alterations impact tumor progression, TME composition, and immune cell function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key metabolic alterations in cancer.
- To explore the role of metabolism in tumor progression and the TME.
- To discuss emerging nanomaterial-based therapeutic strategies targeting cancer metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of metabolic pathways in cancer.
- Analysis of the impact of metabolic reprogramming on tumor progression and immunity.
- Exploration of nanomaterial-based therapies for cancer metabolism modulation.
Main Results:
- Key metabolic pathways (glucose, amino acid, lipid, nucleotide, mitochondrial) are altered in cancer.
- Metabolic reprogramming influences tumor growth, TME, and immune cell function.
- Nanomaterial-based therapies show promise in reprogramming the TME and enhancing anti-tumor immunity.
Conclusions:
- Targeting cancer-specific metabolic vulnerabilities presents a promising therapeutic avenue.
- Nanomaterial-based approaches offer innovative strategies for modulating cancer immunometabolism.
- Clinical translation requires addressing challenges in development and implementation for effective cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...