6533b7d6fe1ef96bd1266721

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Metabolic Escape Routes of Cancer Stem Cells and Therapeutic Opportunities

Lorenzo MemeoCaterina D’accardoMatilde TodaroFrancesco VeronaAlice TurdoSimone Di FrancoDario GiuffridaGaetana PorcelliStefano ForteGiorgio Stassi

subject

cancer stem cells0301 basic medicinecancer stem cellCancer ResearchStromal cellSettore MED/50 - Scienze Tecniche Mediche ApplicateCellcancer metabolismReviewTumor initiationlcsh:RC254-282glycolysi03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineCancer stem celllipid metabolismmicroRNAtumor microenvironmentmetabolic reprogrammingMedicinemetabolism-based anticancer drugsTumor microenvironmentbusiness.industryglycolysislcsh:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogensOXPHOSMicrovesicles030104 developmental biologymedicine.anatomical_structureOncology030220 oncology & carcinogenesisCancer cellCancer researchSettore MED/46 - Scienze Tecniche Di Medicina Di Laboratoriobusiness

description

Although improvement in early diagnosis and treatment ameliorated life expectancy of cancer patients, metastatic disease still lacks effective therapeutic approaches. Resistance to anticancer therapies stems from the refractoriness of a subpopulation of cancer cells—termed cancer stem cells (CSCs)—which is endowed with tumor initiation and metastasis formation potential. CSCs are heterogeneous and diverge by phenotypic, functional and metabolic perspectives. Intrinsic as well as extrinsic stimuli dictated by the tumor microenvironment (TME)have critical roles in determining cell metabolic reprogramming from glycolytic toward an oxidative phenotype and vice versa, allowing cancer cells to thrive in adverse milieus. Crosstalk between cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment occurs through the interchange of metabolites, miRNAs and exosomes that drive cancer cells metabolic adaptation. Herein, we identify the metabolic nodes of CSCs and discuss the latest advances in targeting metabolic demands of both CSCs and stromal cells with the scope of improving current therapies and preventing cancer progression.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2020-05-01Cancers
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12061436