Metabolic Phenotypes, Dependencies, and Adaptation in Lung Cancer.

Gina M DeNicola, David B Shackelford

Journal: Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine 2021;11(11):a037838

PMID: 34127512

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Abstract

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease that is subdivided into histopathological subtypes with distinct behaviors. Each subtype is characterized by distinct features and molecular alterations that influence tumor metabolism. Alterations in tumor metabolism can be exploited by imaging modalities that use metabolite tracers for the detection and characterization of tumors. Microenvironmental factors, including nutrient and oxygen availability and the presence of stromal cells, are a critical influence on tumor metabolism. Recent technological advances facilitate the direct evaluation of metabolic alterations in patient tumors in this complex microenvironment. In addition, molecular alterations directly influence tumor cell metabolism and metabolic dependencies that influence response to therapy. Current therapeutic approaches to target tumor metabolism are currently being developed and translated into the clinic for patient therapy.

Address: Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA.; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.

DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a037838