Metabolic rewiring has an enormous impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME), which aids in proliferation of tumors and their metastasis This process involves alterations in cellular metabolism that satisfy the energetic and biosynthetic requirements of rapidly proliferating cancer cells, while simultaneously affecting the behavior of adjacent stromal and immune cells, thereby creating an environment conducive to tumor progression. Cancer cells exhibit increased glucose uptake and preferentially utilize glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation for energy production, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Moreover, changes in lipid metabolism yield vital elements for membrane production and energy storage, bolstering tumor growth and survival. Competition for metabolism and the build-up of immunosuppressive metabolites helps create an environment that fosters tumor progression and therapy resistance. The metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells affects TME by creating an environment devoid of nutrients and immune system suppression. Understanding the intricate metabolic relationships within the TME opens up possibilities for therapeutic approaches intended to disrupt these processes. A promising strategy to increase immune and stromal cells’ anti-tumor activity is to concentrate on modifying their metabolism. Additionally, resistance mechanisms in cancer treatment may be addressed by using metabolic inhibitors in addition to traditional therapies.
Kaushik et al. (Wed,) studied this question.