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Immunometabolism in cancer: a systemic perspective.
Helena Moretti1, Giorgia Cioccoloni2, Esperanza Perucha1
1Centre for Inflammation Biology and Cancer Immunology, Department of Inflammation Biology, King's College London & Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Immunology
|October 24, 2025
Summary
Cancer
Area of Science:
- Immunology and Metabolism
Background:
- Cancer incidence is rising, posing a significant public health challenge.
- Cancer cells evade immune surveillance through uncontrolled proliferation, requiring substantial energy.
- Tumor and immune cells have high metabolic demands for ATP and macromolecule synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the energetic requirements of the anti-tumor immune response.
- To investigate the impact of metabolic overload and obesity on anti-tumor immunity.
- To explore how patient metabolic status influences immunotherapy efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Systemic perspective analysis of cellular and tissue metabolic adaptations.
- Review of energy demands during anti-tumor immune responses.
- Examination of obesity's effects on immune cell metabolism and function.
Main Results:
- Metabolic overload and obesity disrupt the anti-tumor immune response.
- Immunotherapies can have variable outcomes based on a patient's metabolic background.
- Understanding metabolic influences is crucial for optimizing cancer treatment.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic adaptations are critical for both cancer cells and the anti-tumor immune system.
- Obesity and metabolic dysfunction impair anti-tumor immunity.
- Tailoring cancer prevention and treatment to a patient's metabolic profile is essential.
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