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The paradox of the over reliance of cancer cells on fermentation for energy

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Jan 14, 2025, 02:40

The paradox of the over reliance of cancer cells on fermentation for energy

James P. Crowley shared a post by Vice president ofon, on LinkedIn:

“Over 100 years have passed since Otto Warburg described the paradox of the over reliance of cancer cells on fermentation for energy that resulted in the incomplete catabolism of glucose to lactic acid despite the availability of oxygen.

It now appears that part of this over reliance on glycolysis is one of the reasons cancer cells develop the ability to defeat the immune system’s effort to destroy it.

‘Metabolic crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment results in nutrient competition and acidosis, thereby hindering immune cell functionality.

Interestingly, immune cells also undergo metabolic reprogramming that enables their proliferation, differentiation, and effector functions.'”

Quoting John Gordon‘s post:

“OPEN ACCESS Review by Jean-Ehrland Ricci now breaking at Cell Press Reports

Metabolic reprogramming in both immune and cancer cells plays a crucial role in the antitumor immune response. Recent studies indicate that cancer metabolism not only sustains carcinogenesis and survival via altered signaling but also modulates immune cell function.

Metabolic crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment results in nutrient competition and acidosis, thereby hindering immune cell functionality. Interestingly, immune cells also undergo metabolic reprogramming that enables their proliferation, differentiation, and effector functions.

This review* highlights the regulation of antitumor immune responses through metabolic reprogramming in cancer and immune cells and explores therapeutic strategies that target these metabolic pathways in cancer immunotherapy, including using chimeric antigen receptor CAR-T cells. It discusses innovative combinations of immunotherapy, cellular therapies, and metabolic interventions that could optimise the efficacy of existing treatment protocols.”

The paradox of the over reliance of cancer cells on fermentation for energy

Tumor-induced metabolic immunosuppression: Mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Authors: Jean-Ehrland Ricci

The paradox of the over reliance of cancer cells on fermentation for energy

James P. Crowley is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus at Brown University and serves as a volunteer physician at the Rhode Island Free Clinic. He has held leadership positions in the medical community, including past President of the Rhode Island Medical Society and the last President of The Providence Medical Association.