Ovarian Cancer and Glutamine Metabolism
Zacharias Fasoulakis, Antonios Koutras, Thomas Ntounis, Ioannis Prokopakis, Paraskevas Perros, Athanasios Chionis, Ioakeim Sapantzoglou, Alexandros Katrachouras, Kyriakos Konis, Athina A. Samara, Asimina Valsamaki, Vasileios-Chrysovalantis Palios, Panagiotis D. Symeonidis, Konstantinos Nikolettos, Athanasios Pagkalos, Sotirios K. Sotiriou, Marianna Theodora, Panos Antsaklis, G. Daskalakis, Emmanuel N. Kontomanolis
Abstract
Cancer cells are known to have a distinct metabolic profile and to exhibit significant changes in a variety of metabolic mechanisms compared to normal cells, particularly glycolysis and glutaminolysis, in order to cover their increased energy requirements. There is mounting evidence that there is a link between glutamine metabolism and the proliferation of cancer cells, demonstrating that glutamine metabolism is a vital mechanism for all cellular processes, including the development of cancer. Detailed knowledge regarding its degree of engagement in numerous biological processes across distinct cancer types is still lacking, despite the fact that such knowledge is necessary for comprehending the differentiating characteristics of many forms of cancer. This review aims to examine data on glutamine metabolism and ovarian cancer and identify possible therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer treatment.