Amino acid metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment and its implication for cancer therapy
Jiarong Zhang, Mingjian Chen, Yuxin Yang, Ziqi Liu, Wanni Guo, Pingjuan Xiang, Zhaoyang Zeng, Dan Wang, Wei Xiong
Abstract
Amino acids are essential building blocks for proteins, crucial energy sources for cell survival, and key signaling molecules supporting the resistant growth of tumor cells. In tumor cells, amino acid metabolic reprogramming is characterized by the enhanced uptake of amino acids as well as their aberrant synthesis, breakdown, and transport, leading to immune evasion and malignant progression of tumor cells. This article reviews the altered amino acid metabolism in tumor cells and its impact on tumor microenvironment, and also provides an overview of the current clinical applications of amino acid metabolism. Innovative drugs targeting amino acid metabolism hold great promise for precision and personalized cancer therapy.