Amino Acid Metabolism and Its Role in Cancer Pathogenesis and Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Recent technological advancements in measuring cell metabolism have revolutionized the landscape of cancer therapy. There is a growing consensus that metabolism significantly influences cancer malignancy, often necessitating a metabolic shift—such as the well-known "Warburg Effect"—towards heightened glycolysis to meet the rapid energy demands and to supply building blocks essential for cancer cell proliferation. Concurrently, this alteration disrupts the uptake and distribution of amino acids, notably cysteine and methionine, while highlighting the crucial impact of glutamine on cancer progression, symptoms, and anti-cancer immune responses.

Metabolic assessments have unveiled that cancer strategies and dependencies are not always predictable. Some cancer subtypes exhibit metabolic plasticity, surpassing the reliance solely on glycolysis by seamlessly transitioning between glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. Conversely, other cancers heavily lean towards mitochondrial respiration. Aberrations in cysteine, methionine, and glutamine metabolism significantly contribute to cancer pathogenesis and advancement. Understanding these metabolic drivers will elucidate the vulnerabilities in cancer pathways, paving the way for identifying potential pharmaceutical or nutritional targets to develop safe and effective cancer treatments and palliative care.

The Special Issue will encompass comprehensive reviews and research studies exploring the following domains:

1. Metabolic phenotyping aimed at distinguishing between healthy cells and cancer cells, which distinctly exhibit deregulated amino acid metabolism.
2. The dependence of cancer on amino acids, including signaling or pathway intermediates and substrate requirements, advancing therapeutic discovery by identifying and validating drug targets.
3. Preventive and therapeutic strategies of cancer, utilizing nutritional interventions, phytochemicals, and microelements to leverage amino acid metabolism for improved outcomes.

Dr. Bo Han
Dr. Ba Xuan Hoang
Guest Editors

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• cancer
• oncology
• immunology
• amino acid metabolism
• cancer metabolic reprogramming
• nutritional therapy
• food supplements