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Metabolism within the tumor microenvironment and its implication on cancer progression: An ongoing therapeutic target
Author(s) -
Ocaña Ma Carmen,
MartínezPoveda Beatriz,
Quesada Ana R.,
Medina Miguel Ángel
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
medicinal research reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.868
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1098-1128
pISSN - 0198-6325
DOI - 10.1002/med.21511
Subject(s) - tumor microenvironment , stromal cell , cancer research , cancer cell , cancer , tumor progression , cell metabolism , immunotherapy , biology , metabolism , cancer associated fibroblasts , cancer immunotherapy , reprogramming , angiogenesis , immune system , cell , tumor cells , immunology , endocrinology , biochemistry , genetics
Since reprogramming energy metabolism is considered a new hallmark of cancer, tumor metabolism is again in the spotlight of cancer research. Many studies have been carried out and many possible therapies have been developed in the last years. However, tumor cells are not alone. A series of extracellular components and stromal cells, such as endothelial cells, cancer‐associated fibroblasts, tumor‐associated macrophages, and tumor‐infiltrating T cells, surround tumor cells in the so‐called tumor microenvironment (TME). Metabolic features of these cells are being studied in deep in order to find relationships between metabolism within the TME and tumor progression. Moreover, it cannot be forgotten that tumor growth is able to modulate host metabolism and homeostasis, so that TME is not the whole story. Importantly, the metabolic switch in cancer is just a consequence of the flexibility and adaptability of metabolism and should not be surprising. Treatments of cancer patients with combined therapies including antitumor agents with those targeting stromal cell metabolism, antiangiogenic drugs, and/or immunotherapy are being developed as promising therapeutics.