Exploiting metabolic dependencies for therapeutic targeting of brain cancers

Metabolic reprogramming is a defining hallmark of cancer, and brain tumors are no exception. The brain's extraordinary energy demands, metabolic compartmentalization, and protection by the blood-brain barrier create a unique microenvironment that profoundly shapes tumor metabolism. Many brain tumors exhibit enhanced glucose uptake and fermentative glycolysis, a phenomenon classically described as the Warburg effect. However, accumulating evidence over the past two decades reveals that brain tumors rely on a far broader and more dynamic metabolic repertoire. Beyond glycolysis, metabolic processes such as the pentose phosphate pathway, serine biosynthesis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, glutaminolysis, lipid metabolism, and purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis, all contribute to sustaining tumor growth, stemness, epigenetic identity, and therapeutic resistance. These metabolic adaptations differ markedly across tumor types and developmental contexts, from glioblastoma and diffuse astrocytoma to oligodendroglioma, ependymoma, pediatric high-grade glioma, medulloblastoma, and other embryonal tumors. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the major metabolic hallmarks of brain cancer, emphasizing mechanisms that support tumor identity, proliferation, and survival. We further highlight emerging metabolic vulnerabilities and discuss progress in developing therapies that target these pathways. Together, these insights illuminate how metabolism underpins the remarkable adaptability of brain tumors and suggest new avenues for precision treatment.