Metabolic reprogramming of the tumour microenvironment

Abstract

Tumour cells, stromal cells and the stroma comprise the tumour microenvironment. The metabolism of both tumour cells and several types of tumour stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumour-associated macrophages, is reprogrammed. Current studies have found that stromal cells promote tumour progression and metastasis, through not only the paracrine secretion of cytokines or chemokines, but also intermediate metabolites. Here, we summarize the latest insights into the mechanism of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumour-associated macrophages, and their potential roles in tumour progression and metastasis.

Keywords: Aerobic glycolysis; Warburg effect; cancer-associated fibroblast; epigenetic regulation; metabolic reprogramming; metabolites shuttling; oxidative phosphorylation; tumor progression; tumour microenvironment; tumour-associated macrophage.