title: PI3K keeps the balance between metabolism and cancer.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have established a positive correlation between cancer and metabolic disorders, suggesting that aberrant cell metabolism is a common feature of nearly all tumors. To meet their demand of building block molecules, cancer cells switch to a heavily glucose-dependent metabolism. As insulin triggers glucose uptake, most tumors are or become insulin-dependent. However, the effects of insulin and of other similar growth factors are not only limited to metabolic control but also favor tumor growth by stimulating proliferation and survival. A key signaling event mediating these metabolic and proliferative responses is the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3K) pathway. In this review, we will thus discuss the current concepts of tumor metabolism and the opportunity of PI3K-targeted therapies to exploit the "sweet tooth" of cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Braccini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ciraolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pirali
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Germena
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rolfo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors