Nutrient Exploitation within the Tumor-Stroma Metabolic Crosstalk

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment has an essential role in defining tumor malignancy, since it can either promote or prevent tumor initiation and subsequent progression and metastatic dissemination. Recent studies demonstrate that highly aggressive cancer cells display a high degree of metabolic plasticity paralleled by the acquisition of stemness and chemoresistant properties. In addition, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells have an important role in shaping the metabolic behavior of cancer cells. This review discusses the current knowledge of metabolic reprogramming in cancer, the tumor-stroma metabolic crosstalk, and the available compounds that may be used to effectively target the tumor-stroma metabolic symbiosis.

Keywords: Warburg metabolism; metabolic reprogramming; oxidative phosphorylation; tumor microenvironment; tumor–stroma crosstalk.