The metabolism of cancer cells during metastasis

This Review describes the metabolic rewiring that occurs in cancer cells transitioning through the metastatic cascade and discusses the evidence for metabolically distinct features of primary tumours and metastases. Metastasis formation is the major cause of death in most patients with cancer. Despite extensive research, targeting metastatic seeding and colonization is still an unresolved challenge. Only recently, attention has been drawn to the fact that metastasizing cancer cells selectively and dynamically adapt their metabolism at every step during the metastatic cascade. Moreover, many metastases display different metabolic traits compared with the tumours from which they originate, enabling survival and growth in the new environment. Consequently, the stage-dependent metabolic traits may provide therapeutic windows for preventing or reducing metastasis, and targeting the new metabolic traits arising in established metastases may allow their eradication.

Automated summary

This review discusses the metabolic rewiring in cancer cells during the metastatic cascade and the distinct metabolic features of primary tumors and metastases. Metastasis is the leading cause of death in most cancer patients, and targeting metastatic seeding and colonization remains a significant challenge. Adjusting metabolism may provide therapeutic opportunities to prevent or reduce metastasis, and targeting the new metabolic traits in established metastases could lead to their eradication.