Metabolic Pathways in Breast Cancer Reprograming: An Insight to Non-Coding RNAs

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolisms to achieve high energetic requirements and produce precursors that facilitate uncontrolled cell proliferation. Metabolic reprograming involves not only the dysregulation in glucose-metabolizing regulatory enzymes, but also the enzymes engaging in the lipid and amino acid metabolisms. Nevertheless, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of reprograming are not fully understood. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as functional RNA molecules cannot translate into proteins, but they do play a regulatory role in gene expression. Moreover, ncRNAs have been demonstrated to be implicated in the metabolic modulations in breast cancer (BC) by regulating the metabolic-related enzymes. Here, we will focus on the regulatory involvement of ncRNAs (microRNA, circular RNA and long ncRNA) in BC metabolism, including glucose, lipid and glutamine metabolism. Investigation of this aspect may not only alter the approaches of BC diagnosis and prognosis, but may also open a new avenue in using ncRNA-based therapeutics for BC treatment by targeting different metabolic pathways.

Automated summary

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet high energy demands and promote uncontrolled cell proliferation. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a regulatory role in breast cancer metabolism, including glucose, lipid, and glutamine metabolism. Understanding the involvement of ncRNAs in metabolic reprogramming may provide new approaches for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of breast cancer.