Role of Cell Metabolism in Cancer Biology
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 1322
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation. A crucial aspect of cancer biology is the altered metabolism of cancer cells, which supports their rapid growth and survival under adverse conditions. Understanding these metabolic changes is key to developing targeted cancer therapies.
One of the hallmark features of cancer metabolism is the Warburg effect, named after Otto Warburg, who first described it. Unlike normal cells that primarily rely on oxidative phosphorylation for energy production, cancer cells predominantly use glycolysis, even in the presence of ample oxygen. This metabolic reprogramming allows cancer cells to generate the necessary biosynthetic precursors and ATP to support rapid cell division and growth.
Cancer cells exhibit several alterations in metabolic pathways such as:
- Increased Glycolysis
- Glutamine Metabolism
- Lipid Metabolism
- Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP)
- PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
- p53 regulates metabolic pathways.
The reprogramming of cell metabolism is a fundamental aspect of cancer biology, providing cancer cells with the resources needed for rapid proliferation and survival. Understanding these metabolic changes has opened new avenues for cancer treatment, focusing on disrupting the altered metabolic pathways unique to cancer cells. Continued research in this field holds promise for the development of more effective and targeted cancer therapies.
Dr. Silvia Filippi
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- cancer cells metabolism
- target therapy
- PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway
- hypoxia
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