Tumor Cell Metabolism

Tumor cell metabolism refers to the distinct and reprogrammed metabolic processes that cancer cells use to support their rapid growth, survival, and adaptation within often nutrient-poor or hostile microenvironments. Unlike normal cells, tumor cells undergo profound changes in how they acquire nutrients, generate energy (ATP), produce biosynthetic precursors, and maintain redox balance. Key features include aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect), glutaminolysis, metabolic flexibility, and altered nutrient uptake. These metabolic alterations are driven by oncogenic mutations and signaling pathway activation, contributing to cancer progression and therapy resistance. Targeting tumor cell metabolism is a promising therapeutic strategy, but it requires addressing metabolic plasticity and potential off-target effects.

Other names

Cancer Cell MetabolismMetabolic Reprogramming in CancerWarburg Effect