Advances in Cancer Cell Metabolism and Tumor Microenvironment

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolism refers to the intricate network of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that maintain cellular homeostasis by regulating the synthesis, breakdown, and utilization of energy and macromolecules. In cancer cells, metabolic pathways are frequently rewired to support uncontrolled proliferation, resist cell death, and adapt to environmental stresses such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. The metabolic flexibility of tumor cells is not only a hallmark of malignancy, but also a key driver of disease progression and therapeutic resistance. Cancer cells often exhibit altered glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism. Meanwhile, these metabolic changes are tightly linked to the status of various cell populations within the tumor microenvironment, such as immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and/or endothelial cells, etc. One clinically significant example is cancer-associated liver failure in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma, where systemic inflammation, metabolic overload, and impaired hepatic regeneration converge to drive acute or acute-on-chronic liver dysfunction, which needs to be treated before the application of common cancer therapeutics. This multi-faceted crosstalk underscores the urgency of understanding metabolic complexity across cancer cells, tumor microenvironment, and neighboring organ systems. Over the past decade, an array of cancer-related metabolic vulnerabilities have been uncovered, although much remains to be elucidated in this field. This Special Issue seeks to highlight recent research into the biochemical and molecular mechanisms governing cancer cell metabolism, as well as its reciprocal interaction with the tumor microenvironment and neighboring tissues. We particularly welcome studies that identify novel metabolic vulnerabilities, clarify how metabolic crosstalk regulates oncogenic signaling or immune response, and develop potential therapies exploiting these deregulations. Both basic and translational research contributions are encouraged.

Dr. Bo Li
Guest Editor

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• metabolism
• cancer
• immune cells
• tumor microenvironment
• cancer-associated organ failure
• cancer therapeutics