title: Targeting cancer metabolism: a therapeutic window opens.
abstract: Genetic events in cancer activate signalling pathways that alter cell metabolism. Clinical evidence has linked cell metabolism with cancer outcomes. Together, these observations have raised interest in targeting metabolic enzymes for cancer therapy, but they have also raised concerns that these therapies would have unacceptable effects on normal cells. However, some of the first cancer therapies that were developed target the specific metabolic needs of cancer cells and remain effective agents in the clinic today. Research into how changes in cell metabolism promote tumour growth has accelerated in recent years. This has refocused efforts to target metabolic dependencies of cancer cells as a selective anticancer strategy.
authors: Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. mvh@mit.edu
authors: Matthew G
authors: MG
authors: Vander Heiden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004798:Enzymes; D007773:Lactates; D005973:Glutamine; D009243:NAD; D005947:Glucose