Effect of metabolism on the immune microenvironment of breast cancer

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2023 Mar;1878(2):188861. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188861. Epub 2023 Feb 20.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly prevalent primary malignancy worldwide with poor prognosis. Despite the development of aggressive interventions, mortality due to BC remains high. BC cells reprogram nutrient metabolism to adapt to the energy acquisition and progression of the tumor. The metabolic changes in cancer cells are closely related to the abnormal function and effect of immune cells and immune factors, including chemokines, cytokines, and other related effector molecules in the tumor microenvironment (TME), leading to tumor immune escape, whereby the complex crosstalk between immune cells and cancer cells has been considered the key mechanism regulating cancer progression. In this review, we summarized the latest findings on metabolism-related processes in the immune microenvironment during BC progression. Our findings showing the impact of metabolism on the immune microenvironment may suggest new strategies for regulating the immune microenvironment and attenuating BC through metabolic interventions.

Keywords: Amino acid metabolism; Breast cancer; Cancer immunity; Glucose metabolism; Lipid metabolism; Tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms*
  • Cytokines
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nutrients
  • Tumor Escape
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Cytokines