Hypoxic regulation of metabolism offers new opportunities for anticancer therapy

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2014 Sep;14(9):979-81. doi: 10.1586/14737140.2014.930345. Epub 2014 Jun 14.

Abstract

Cancer metabolism now appears to be optimized for growth of tumor cells by having an increased reliance on non-oxidative processes. However, in order to exploit these findings clinically, we must determine the specific pathways and components that cancer cells rely on, but are dispensable for normal cells. Because tumors have the added stress of hypoxia, the metabolic response to low oxygen may represent such a tumor-specific metabolic program.

Keywords: pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase; α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Hypoxia / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oxygen / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Oxygen