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cancer metabolism

a new approach for targeting cancer cells' fundamental survival mechanisms

Metabolic differences between rapidly-proliferating cancer cells and normal cells have been termed the Warburg Effect, named after Otto Warburg who observed this distinction in the 1920s.

While the Warburg effect demonstrated that cancer cells metabolize at a much different rate than normal cells, recent research has demonstrated for the first time that these altered metabolic processes can be a fundamental driver of tumor growth, versus being a consequence of the cancer. Cancer cells rewire their metabolic networks, redirecting sugars, fats and other energy sources to satisfy the demands of continuous proliferation

The emerging area of biology known as cancer metabolism has the potential to open the way to the discovery of new high potential targets and novel therapeutics that can fundamentally change the treatment of cancer.

key research illuminating the potential of the field of cancer metabolism

Research has demonstrated that cancer cells have highly regulated processes for nutrient consumption, fat utilization and recycling of cellular organelles to enable survival and accumulation of biomass. Together, these proliferation-supporting processes represent a cellular phenomenon called metabolic rewiring.

Scientific publications featuring significant discoveries and reviews in the field of cancer metabolism:

• "Understanding the Warburg Effect: The Metabolic Requirements of Cell Proliferation." Vander Heiden et al, Science 2009
  
  
• "PKM2 tyrosine phsophorylation and glutamine metabolism signal a different view of the Warburg effect." Dang C., Science Signaling, 2009
  
  
• "The biology of cancer: metabolic reprogramming fuels cell growth and proliferation." DeBerardinis et al., Cell Metabolism, 2008
  
  
• "Metabolic targeting as an anticancer strategy: dawn of a new era?" Pan and Mak, Science Signaling, 2007