Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Metabolism and Their Cellular Cycles

Abstract

Cancer is a prevalent disease, with 1,752,735 new cases reported to the CDC in 2019. The disease is characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Current treatments for cancer can affect the whole body and have detrimental effects. Cancer cells are often programmed metabolically. In recent years, treatments to undermine this metabolic reprogramming have come to the forefront. In this review, we explore some of the molecular mechanisms underlying certain dietary interventions and critical metabolic pathways. Dietary interventions such as chronic calorie restriction (CR) and fasting have been shown to aid in adjusting metabolic reprogramming to help in reducing cancer progression. Other dietary interventions target amino acid (AA) metabolism. Essential AAs are only consumed from the diet and their restriction has been shown to work as a treatment in mice. Lastly, central carbon metabolism includes the TCA cycle and glycolysis, both commonly reprogrammed pathways in cancer cells. Other dietary interventions and the reprogramming of these pathways can be used to treat cancer in other ways, such as knocking out genes and cell cycle arrest.