Metabolic Reprogramming and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity: Opportunities and Challenges for Cancer Therapy

Nai-Yun Sun; Muh-Hwa Yang

doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.00792

Metabolic Reprogramming and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity: Opportunities and Challenges for Cancer Therapy

Front Oncol. 2020 May 20:10:792. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00792. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Nai-Yun Sun^{1

2}, Muh-Hwa Yang^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Cancer Progression Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Metabolic reprogramming and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity are both hallmarks of the adaptation of cancer cells for tumor growth and progression. For metabolic changes, cancer cells alter metabolism by utilizing glucose, lipids, and amino acids to meet the requirement of rapid proliferation and to endure stressful environments. Dynamic changes between the epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) are critical steps for cancer invasion and metastatic colonization. Compared to the extensively studied metabolic reprogramming in tumorigenesis, the metabolic changes in metastasis are relatively unclear. Here, we review metabolic reprogramming, epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity, and their mutual influences on tumor cells. We also review the developing treatments for targeting cancer metabolism and the impact of metabolic targeting on EMT. In summary, understanding the metabolic adaption and phenotypic plasticity will be mandatory for developing new strategies to target metastatic and refractory cancers that are intractable to current treatments.

Keywords: aerobic glycolysis; cancer metabolism; drug resistance; epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity; metastasis.

Publication types

Review