Targeting fructose metabolism for cancer therapy

Cancer cells frequently rewire their metabolism to support rapid proliferation and invasion. Our analysis of the most lethal cancers in 2022 reveals a prominent association with dysregulated fructose metabolism. Fructose serves as a crucial alternative energy substrate under nutrient-deprived conditions, promoting the Warburg effect and thereby facilitating tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, aberrant fructose utilization activates oncogenic mTORC1 signaling, suppresses anti-tumor immune responses, and facilitates tumor progression. Targeting key enzymes and transporters in fructose metabolism presents a promising therapeutic avenue to disrupt tumor bioenergetics and signaling pathways, potentially improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.