Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic Microenvironment
The metabolic microenvironment, comprising all soluble and insoluble nutrients and co-factors in the extracellular milieu, has a major impact on cancer cell proliferation and survival. A large body of evidence from recent studies suggests that tumor cells show a high degree of metabolic flexibility...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/3/1476 |
| _version_ | 1797416622581874688 |
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| author | Gabriele Grasmann Ayusi Mondal Katharina Leithner |
| author_facet | Gabriele Grasmann Ayusi Mondal Katharina Leithner |
| author_sort | Gabriele Grasmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The metabolic microenvironment, comprising all soluble and insoluble nutrients and co-factors in the extracellular milieu, has a major impact on cancer cell proliferation and survival. A large body of evidence from recent studies suggests that tumor cells show a high degree of metabolic flexibility and adapt to variations in nutrient availability. Insufficient vascular networks and an imbalance of supply and demand shape the metabolic tumor microenvironment, which typically contains a lower concentration of glucose compared to normal tissues. The present review sheds light on the recent literature on adaptive responses in cancer cells to nutrient deprivation. It focuses on the utilization of alternative nutrients in anabolic metabolic pathways in cancer cells, including soluble metabolites and macromolecules and outlines the role of central metabolic enzymes conferring metabolic flexibility, like gluconeogenesis enzymes. Moreover, a conceptual framework for potential therapies targeting metabolically flexible cancer cells is presented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:06:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef87062db45046d5aaccc30ef7144804 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:06:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef87062db45046d5aaccc30ef71448042023-12-03T12:03:40ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-02-01223147610.3390/ijms22031476Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic MicroenvironmentGabriele Grasmann0Ayusi Mondal1Katharina Leithner2Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, A-8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, A-8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, A-8036 Graz, AustriaThe metabolic microenvironment, comprising all soluble and insoluble nutrients and co-factors in the extracellular milieu, has a major impact on cancer cell proliferation and survival. A large body of evidence from recent studies suggests that tumor cells show a high degree of metabolic flexibility and adapt to variations in nutrient availability. Insufficient vascular networks and an imbalance of supply and demand shape the metabolic tumor microenvironment, which typically contains a lower concentration of glucose compared to normal tissues. The present review sheds light on the recent literature on adaptive responses in cancer cells to nutrient deprivation. It focuses on the utilization of alternative nutrients in anabolic metabolic pathways in cancer cells, including soluble metabolites and macromolecules and outlines the role of central metabolic enzymes conferring metabolic flexibility, like gluconeogenesis enzymes. Moreover, a conceptual framework for potential therapies targeting metabolically flexible cancer cells is presented.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/3/1476cancermetabolic microenvironmentheterogeneityadaptabilitygluconeogenesis |
| spellingShingle | Gabriele Grasmann Ayusi Mondal Katharina Leithner Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic Microenvironment International Journal of Molecular Sciences cancer metabolic microenvironment heterogeneity adaptability gluconeogenesis |
| title | Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic Microenvironment |
| title_full | Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic Microenvironment |
| title_fullStr | Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic Microenvironment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic Microenvironment |
| title_short | Flexibility and Adaptation of Cancer Cells in a Heterogenous Metabolic Microenvironment |
| title_sort | flexibility and adaptation of cancer cells in a heterogenous metabolic microenvironment |
| topic | cancer metabolic microenvironment heterogeneity adaptability gluconeogenesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/3/1476 |
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