AMPK-Mediated Lysosome Biogenesis in Lung Cancer Growth

Cancer cells must adapt to metabolic stress during tumor progression. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Eichner et al. (2019) report that lung cancer development in genetically engineered mice requires the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Their findings suggest that AMPK-mediated induction of lysosomal function supports cancer cell fitness, particularly during the early stages of tumorigenesis.