Role of Glucose Metabolic Reprogramming in Breast Cancer Progression and Drug Resistance
by
, , and
Pan Lei
1,2,†
,
Wenzhou Wang
1,†,
Marisela Sheldon
3,
Yutong Sun
4,
Fan Yao
1,2,5,6,7,* and
Li Ma
3,8,* 1
Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
2
Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
3
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
4
Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
5
College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
6
Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shenzhen 518000, China
7
Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
8
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston TX 77030, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Cancers 2023, 15(13), 3390; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15133390
Submission received: 26 April 2023
/
Revised: 26 June 2023
/
Accepted: 26 June 2023
/
Published: 28 June 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research in Oncology in 2023)
Simple Summary
Glucose metabolic reprogramming is a process in which cells alter the way that glucose is utilized. In breast cancer, cells can undergo this process to fuel their growth, acquire drug resistance, and become metastatic. Scientists have been studying this process to identify new targets for breast cancer treatment. By understanding what enzymes and pathways are involved, researchers may be able to develop drugs that specifically target these pathways, ultimately leading to more effective and less toxic treatments for breast cancer in the future.
Abstract
The involvement of glucose metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance has been increasingly appreciated. Studies in recent years have revealed molecular mechanisms by which glucose metabolic reprogramming regulates breast cancer. To date, despite a few metabolism-based drugs being tested in or en route to clinical trials, no drugs targeting glucose metabolism pathways have yet been approved to treat breast cancer. Here, we review the roles and mechanisms of action of glucose metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer progression and drug resistance. In addition, we summarize the currently available metabolic inhibitors targeting glucose metabolism and discuss the challenges and opportunities in targeting this pathway for breast cancer treatment.
