Integrating metabolic reprogramming and metabolic imaging to predict breast cancer therapeutic responses

Abstract

Metabolic reprogramming is not only an emerging hallmark of cancer, but also an essential regulator of cancer cell adaptation to the microenvironment. Metabolic imaging targeting metabolic signatures has been widely used for breast cancer diagnosis. However, limited implications have been explored for monitoring breast cancer therapy response, although metabolic plasticity is notably associated with therapy resistance. In this review, we focus on the metabolic alterations upon breast cancer therapy and their potential for evaluating breast cancer therapeutic responses. We summarize the metabolic network and regulatory changes upon breast cancer therapy in terms of cancer pathological and genetic differences and discuss the implications of metabolic imaging with various probes in selecting target beneficiaries for precision treatment.

Keywords: breast cancer; metabolic imaging; metabolic reprogramming; therapeutic response.