Recreating metabolic interactions of the tumour microenvironment

Rodrigo Curvello; Nikolaus Berndt; Sandra Hauser; Daniela Loessner

doi:10.1016/j.tem.2023.12.005

Recreating metabolic interactions of the tumour microenvironment

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Jan 10:S1043-2760(23)00250-3. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.12.005. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Rodrigo Curvello¹, Nikolaus Berndt², Sandra Hauser³, Daniela Loessner⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Department of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany; Institute of Computer-assisted Cardiovascular Medicine, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité, Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
³ Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Department of Radiopharmaceutical and Chemical Biology, Dresden, Germany.
⁴ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V., Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden, Germany; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: daniela.loessner@monash.edu.

PMID: 38212233
DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.12.005

Abstract

Tumours are heterogeneous tissues containing diverse populations of cells and an abundant extracellular matrix (ECM). This tumour microenvironment prompts cancer cells to adapt their metabolism to survive and grow. Besides epigenetic factors, the metabolism of cancer cells is shaped by crosstalk with stromal cells and extracellular components. To date, most experimental models neglect the complexity of the tumour microenvironment and its relevance in regulating the dynamics of the metabolism in cancer. We discuss emerging strategies to model cellular and extracellular aspects of cancer metabolism. We highlight cancer models based on bioengineering, animal, and mathematical approaches to recreate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and patient-specific metabolism. Combining these approaches will improve our understanding of cancer metabolism and support the development of metabolism-targeting therapies.

Keywords: cancer metabolism; cancer models; mathematical models; tumour microenvironment.

Publication types

Review