Metabolism and Metabolic Reprogramming in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Metabolism
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) presents significant therapeutic challenges with stagnant survival rates.
• Metabolic reprogramming is increasingly recognized as a key driver of LSCC progression, resistance, and immune evasion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current evidence on metabolic rewiring in LSCC.
• To highlight how metabolic alterations create targetable vulnerabilities.
• To provide a translational perspective linking tumor metabolism, microenvironment, and immune modulation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing current evidence on metabolic pathways in LSCC.
• Analysis of metabolic reprogramming beyond the Warburg effect.
• Integration of findings on hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and metabolic crosstalk.

Main Results:

• LSCC exhibits profound metabolic reprogramming affecting carbohydrate, amino acid, lipid, and iron metabolism.
• Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) coordinate key metabolic pathways supporting tumor adaptation.
• Metabolic crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment promotes immunosuppression and influences ferroptosis susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• Metabolic dependencies in LSCC represent significant therapeutic vulnerabilities.
• Understanding metabolic rewiring is crucial for developing novel biomarkers and metabolism-based therapies for LSCC.
• Targeting tumor metabolism may overcome resistance to conventional and emerging treatments.