Open AccessTargeting amino acid metabolism in cancer growth and anti-tumor immune response
Author(s) -
Elitsa Ananieva
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
world journal of biological chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1949-8454
DOI - 10.4331/wjbc.v6.i4.281
Subject(s) - immune system , tumor microenvironment , metabolic pathway , context (archaeology) , cancer , amino acid , cancer research , metabolism , cancer cell , cancer therapy , medicine , biology , biochemistry , immunology , paleontology
Recent advances in amino acid metabolism have revealed that targeting amino acid metabolic enzymes in cancer therapy is a promising strategy for the development of novel therapeutic agents. There are currently several drugs in clinical trials that specifically target amino acid metabolic pathways in tumor cells. In the context of the tumor microenvironment, however, tumor cells form metabolic relationships with immune cells, and they often compete for common nutrients. Many tumors evolved to escape immune surveillance by taking advantage of their metabolic flexibility and redirecting nutrients for their own advantage. This review outlines the most recent advances in targeting amino acid metabolic pathways in cancer therapy while giving consideration to the impact these pathways may have on the anti-tumor immune response.