Metabolic Phenotypes, Dependencies, and Adaptation in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease that is subdivided into histopathological subtypes with distinct behaviors. Each subtype is characterized by distinct features and molecular alterations that influence tumor metabolism. Alterations in tumor metabolism can be exploited by imaging modalities that use metabolite tracers for the detection and characterization of tumors. Microenvironmental factors, including nutrient and oxygen availability and the presence of stromal cells, are a critical influence on tumor metabolism. Recent technological advances facilitate the direct evaluation of metabolic alterations in patient tumors in this complex microenvironment. In addition, molecular alterations directly influence tumor cell metabolism and metabolic dependencies that influence response to therapy. Current therapeutic approaches to target tumor metabolism are currently being developed and translated into the clinic for patient therapy.

Automated summary

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease with histopathological subtypes that have distinct features and molecular alterations affecting tumor metabolism. The tumor metabolism can be influenced by microenvironmental factors and technological advances allow for direct evaluation of metabolic alterations in patient tumors. Molecular alterations also play a role in tumor cell metabolism and can affect response to therapy. Therapeutic approaches targeting tumor metabolism are currently in development for patient therapy.