Metabolic requirements of the metastatic cascade. Issue 28 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Drapela, Stanislav; Gomes, Ana P.
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in systems biology. Issue 28(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Metabolic reprogramming -- Metastasis -- Pre-metastatic niche -- Exosomes -- Dormancy -- Organotropism; Systems biology -- Periodicals; 570
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2021.100381
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2452-3100

Abstract

Abstract: Metastases represent a major cause of cancer-associated deaths. Despite extensive research, targeting metastasis remains the main obstacle in cancer therapy. Therefore, it is of tremendous importance to elucidate the mechanisms that impinge on the different steps of the metastatic cascade. Metabolic plasticity is a cornerstone of the tumorigenic process that not only enables cancer cells to rapidly proliferate but also thrive and retain vitality. Plasticity of the metabolic networks that wire cancer cells is of utmost importance during the metastatic cascade when cancer cells are at their most vulnerable and have to survive in a panoply of inhospitable environments as they make their journey to form metastatic lesions. Here, we highlight which metabolic processes are known to power metastasis formation and lay the foundation for additional work aimed at discovering regulatory nodes of metabolic plasticity that can be used to target metastatic disease. Graphical abstract: Image 1