Metabolic changes in bladder cancer

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Bladder cancer is a common solid tumor. Outcomes are poor in advanced disease, with few novel clinical therapeutics introduced over the previous several decades. Otto Warburg's original hypothesis that cancer cells use aerobic glycolysis to produce ATP instead of traditional oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria was a landmark discovery in its time. Recent studies indicate metabolic changes in cancer are far more complex than originally anticipated though. The purpose of this review is to understand metabolic changes that occur in bladder cancer, how targeting these changes could potentially be used therapeutically, and the current treatments that target these metabolic changes METHODS: A literature review on recent advances in cancer metabolism with an emphasis on bladder cancer was performed.

Results: Significant metabolic change occurs in bladder cancer; however, these changes associated are not yet well understood. Therapeutic development in this area is growing and a diverse array of actionable targets such as mitochondrial DNA, mitochondrial metabolic enzymes and cellular signaling proteins have been identified. Many of these proteins may also be involved in chemoresistance.

Conclusion: Metabolism is a growing area of therapeutic interest in bladder cancer, but more studies are required to advance therapeutic development in this area.

Keywords: Bladder; Cancer; Glycolysis; Metabolism; Mitochondria; PDK4.