title: Targeting the latest hallmark of cancer: another attempt at 'magic bullet' drugs targeting cancers' metabolic phenotype.
abstract: The metabolism of tumors is remarkably different from the metabolism of corresponding normal cells and tissues. Metabolic alterations are initiated by oncogenes and are required for malignant transformation, allowing cancer cells to resist some cell death signals while producing energy and fulfilling their biosynthetic needs with limiting resources. The distinct metabolic phenotype of cancers provides an interesting avenue for treatment, potentially with minimal side effects. As many cancers show similar metabolic characteristics, drugs targeting the cancer metabolic phenotype are, perhaps optimistically, expected to be 'magic bullet' treatments. Over the last few years there have been a number of potential drugs developed to specifically target cancer metabolism. Several of these drugs are currently in clinical and preclinical trials. This review outlines examples of drugs developed for different targets of significance to cancer metabolism, with a focus on small molecule leads, chemical biology and clinical results for these drugs.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Information Technology, 100 des Aboiteaux Street, Moncton, NB, E1A 7R1, Canada. cuperlovim@nrc.ca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuperlovic-Culf
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Culf
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Touaibia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lefort
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D050155:Lipogenesis; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005227:Fatty Acids