Metabolic Reprogramming in the Tumour Microenvironment: a Hallmark Shared by Cancer Cells and T Lymphocytes

Overview

Journal Immunology

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2017 Jun 17

PMID 28621843

Citations 57

Authors

Katrina E Allison

Brenda L Coomber

Byram W Bridle

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Altered metabolism is a hallmark of cancers, including shifting oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and up-regulating glutaminolysis to divert carbon sources into biosynthetic pathways that promote proliferation and survival. Therefore, metabolic inhibitors represent promising anti-cancer drugs. However, T cells must rapidly divide and survive in harsh microenvironments to mediate anti-cancer effects. Metabolic profiles of cancer cells and activated T lymphocytes are similar, raising the risk of metabolic inhibitors impairing the immune system. Immune checkpoint blockade provides an example of how metabolism can be differentially impacted to impair cancer cells but support T cells. Implications for research with metabolic inhibitors are discussed.

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