The metabolism of cancer cells during metastasis

Nat Rev Cancer. 2021 Mar;21(3):162-180. doi: 10.1038/s41568-020-00320-2. Epub 2021 Jan 18.

Abstract

Metastasis formation is the major cause of death in most patients with cancer. Despite extensive research, targeting metastatic seeding and colonization is still an unresolved challenge. Only recently, attention has been drawn to the fact that metastasizing cancer cells selectively and dynamically adapt their metabolism at every step during the metastatic cascade. Moreover, many metastases display different metabolic traits compared with the tumours from which they originate, enabling survival and growth in the new environment. Consequently, the stage-dependent metabolic traits may provide therapeutic windows for preventing or reducing metastasis, and targeting the new metabolic traits arising in established metastases may allow their eradication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetates / metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Cell Plasticity
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Glutamine / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Metastasis*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / metabolism
  • Pyruvic Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Acetates
  • Fatty Acids
  • Glutamine
  • Lactic Acid
  • Pyruvic Acid
  • Adenosine Triphosphate