title: Glycogen metabolism has a key role in the cancer microenvironment and provides new targets for cancer therapy.
abstract: Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer cells and contributes to their adaption within the tumour microenvironment and resistance to anticancer therapies. Recently, glycogen metabolism has become a recognised feature of cancer cells since it is upregulated in many tumour types, suggesting that it is an important aspect of cancer cell pathophysiology. Here, we provide an overview of glycogen metabolism and its regulation, with a focus on its role in metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells under stress conditions such as hypoxia, glucose deprivation and anticancer treatment. The various methods to detect glycogen in tumours in vivo as well as pharmacological modulators of glycogen metabolism are also reviewed. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic value of targeting glycogen metabolism as a strategy for combinational approaches in cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology Laboratories, Department of Oncology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK. christos.zois@oncology.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zois
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology Laboratories, Department of Oncology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK. aharris.lab@imm.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Adrian L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006003:Glycogen
keywords: Cancer therapy; Glycogen metabolism; Hypoxia; Radiation; Tumour Microenvironment