Metabolites and the Tumour Microenvironment: from Cellular Mechanisms to Systemic Metabolism

Overview

Journal Nat Metab

Publisher Springer Nature

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2021 Jan 5

PMID 33398194

Citations 232

Authors

Ilaria Elia

Marcia C Haigis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Metabolic transformation is a hallmark of cancer and a critical target for cancer therapy. Cancer metabolism and behaviour are regulated by cell-intrinsic factors as well as metabolite availability in the tumour microenvironment (TME). This metabolic niche within the TME is shaped by four tiers of regulation: (1) intrinsic tumour cell metabolism, (2) interactions between cancer cells and non-cancerous cells, (3) tumour location and heterogeneity and (4) whole-body metabolic homeostasis. Here, we define these modes of metabolic regulation and review how distinct cell types contribute to the metabolite composition of the TME. Finally, we connect these insights to understand how each of these tiers offers unique therapeutic potential to modulate the metabolic profile and function of all cells inhabiting the TME.

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