The cancer cell 'energy grid': TGF-β1 signaling coordinates metabolism for migration

Mol Cell Oncol. 2015 Jan 7;2(3):e981994. doi: 10.4161/23723556.2014.981994. eCollection 2015 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Cancer cells have an increased reliance on lipogenesis, which is required for uncontrolled cell division. We recently reported transcriptional and functional 'reprogramming' of the cellular energy grid, allowing cancer cells to divert metabolism from biosynthesis to bioenergetic pathways and thus supplying enhanced mobility during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β1) (Fig. 1).

Keywords: Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition; fatty acid synthase; lipogenesis; metastasis; transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1).