The Role and Metabolism of Metals in Cancer
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 674
Special Issue Editor
Interests: iron metabolism; cancer biology; cancer stem cells; cancer immunology; cell signaling; apoptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Metals play a crucial role in cancer biology, influencing both tumorigenesis and cancer progression through various biochemical pathways. Essential trace elements such as zinc, copper, and iron are involved in key cellular processes, including DNA synthesis, cell division, and oxidative stress regulation. However, an imbalance in metal homeostasis can contribute to cancer development. Elevated levels of copper, for instance, have been linked to increased angiogenesis and metastasis, while iron dysregulation can exacerbate the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to DNA damage, genomic instability and ferroptosis.
Metals also participate in the metabolism of cancer cells, often enhancing their growth and survival during hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. Cancer cells often exhibit altered metal uptake and efflux mechanisms, which support their rapid proliferation and resistance to therapeutic agents. Moreover, certain metals, such as manganese, can activate oncogenic signaling pathways, promoting tumor growth and resistance to apoptosis.
Understanding the complex interactions between metals and cancer metabolism provides potential avenues for novel therapeutic strategies, including metal chelation therapies and metal-targeting drugs, for disrupting the metal-dependent pathways that sustain tumor growth and progression.
Dr. Anna Martina Battaglia
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- metals
- cancer
- cancer metabolism
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