Energetic metabolism of tumor cells and its implications on cancer diagnosis and therapy

a literature review

Abstract

Cancer is the main global public health issue. Energetic metabolism of tumor cells is altered and its understanding can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic improvement. Aim: To describe primary and regulatory roles of metabolic pathways in tumor progression and its implications. Methodology: Systematic review, including review articles published in English between January 2019 and April 2021, on PubMed database, using the following descriptors: “cancer energy metabolism” and “cancer and metabolism” (applied filter: Review), “cancer metabolism AND therapy” and “cancer and metabolism biomarker” (applied filter: Systematic review).  45 articles were been selected, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Cancer is a metabolic disease, with mitochondrial disfunctions. Tumor cells have flexible metabolism, with altered expression of enzymes from different metabolic pathways. Substrates, like glucose, glutamine, fatty acids, are important to providing carbon skeletons for biosynthesis of macromolecules, cell proliferation and energy. Therefore, proteins and products from metabolic pathways could be important as biomarkers of cancer, as well therapeutic targets. Final considerations: Tumor cells have metabolic signatures that can be used to identify new biomarkers and also for selective therapeutic targets.

Key words: cancer; metabolism; biomarkers; therapy.