Progress in research on the role of amino acid metabolic reprogramming in tumour therapy: A review

Abstract

Malignant tumors are non-communicable diseases that affect human life health and quality of life. Anti-tumour-related research has also been the focus and difficulty in oncology research. With the rise of metabolomics, tumour biology, and the theory of tumour reprogramming, amino acid metabolic reprogramming has become a new target for antitumor research. Amino acids provide biomolecules such as nucleotides for tumour cell proliferation, invasion, and immune escape processes. They are also essential metabolites for immune cell activation and antitumor effects in the tumour microenvironment. Abnormal changes in amino acid metabolism are closely related to tumour development and immunity. Some essential proteins or critical enzymes in their metabolic pathways can be used for tumour diagnosis and prognosis assessment markers. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects of amino acid metabolism on tumour cell proliferation and the abnormal alterations of amino acid metabolism during the tumour metabolic cycle and analyzes and prospects the tumour therapeutic drugs targeting amino acid metabolism. This paper provides theoretical references for the in-depth study of the regulation of amino acid metabolism on tumour development and its possible therapeutic targets.