The potential role of reprogrammed glucose metabolism: an emerging actionable codependent target in thyroid cancer

Although the incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing year by year, most patients, especially those with differentiated thyroid cancer, can usually be cured with surgery, radioactive iodine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression. However, treatment options for patients with poorly differentiated thyroid cancers or radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer have historically been limited. Altered energy metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer and a well-documented feature in thyroid cancer. In a hypoxic environment with extreme nutrient deficiencies resulting from uncontrolled growth, thyroid cancer cells utilize metabolic reprogramming to satisfy their energy demand and support malignant behaviors such as metastasis. This review summarizes past and recent advances in our understanding of the reprogramming of glucose metabolism in thyroid cancer cells, which we expect will yield new therapeutic approaches for patients with special pathological types of thyroid cancer by targeting reprogrammed glucose metabolism.

Automated summary

Although most thyroid cancer patients can be cured with existing treatments, options for patients with poorly differentiated or radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer are limited. Thyroid cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to meet their energy demands and support malignant behaviors. This review summarizes advances in understanding the reprogramming of glucose metabolism in thyroid cancer cells, aiming to identify new therapeutic approaches for specific types of thyroid cancer.