Advances in Metabolic Reprogramming and Immune Regulatory Mechanisms in Lung Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Metabolism

Background:

• Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
• Tumor cells reprogram metabolism to survive in the tumor microenvironment (TME).
• Metabolic reprogramming contributes to immune evasion and therapy resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review key molecular pathways of metabolic reprogramming in lung cancer.
• To elucidate the crosstalk between tumor metabolism and immune regulation.
• To evaluate emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the metabolic-immune axis.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of metabolic reprogramming in lung cancer.
• Analysis of the bidirectional crosstalk between tumor metabolism and the immunosuppressive TME.
• Evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic pathways and immune checkpoints.

Main Results:

• Lung cancer cells exhibit enhanced glycolysis, glutamine dependency, and lipid synthesis.
• Metabolic alterations promote immunosuppressive cells and inhibit effector T cells and NK cells.
• A positive feedback loop between metabolic reprogramming and immune suppression reinforces cancer progression.

Conclusions:

• Targeting the metabolic-immune axis, e.g., with combined metabolic inhibitors and checkpoint blockade, shows promise.
• Metabolic immunotherapies offer a potential strategy to overcome resistance in lung cancer.
• Future research integrating AI and multi-omics data may refine precision oncology interventions.