Metabolism in Tumour-Induced Bone Disease

TL;DR

This paper reviews how cancer cells in bone metastases change their metabolism to survive and grow in the bone environment.

Contribution

The paper provides an updated overview of metabolic adaptations in bone metastatic cancers and their therapeutic implications.

Findings

Cancer cells in bone metastases switch between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to adapt to hypoxia.

These cancer cells exploit neighboring bone cells for energy and protection from chemotherapy.

Targeting these metabolic changes could improve treatments for tumour-induced bone disease.

Abstract

This review highlights recent studies that investigate the metabolic reprogramming that occurs in specific types of bone metastatic cancers, including different types of breast cancer, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma.

Metastatic cancer cells use altered metabolic pathways to adapt in alternate environments. Cancer cells that home towards the bone are able to manipulate their metabolism to survive in the hypoxic microenvironment, shifting between oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, whilst also exploiting neighbouring cells within the bone to provide energy and protect against chemotherapies.

Targeting the altered metabolic pathways in cancer cells could be used to improve treatments, reduce tumour burden and prevent the destruction of the bone that occurs in tumour-induced bone disease.