Regulation of Amino Acid Metabolism in Hematological Malignancies: Advances from Transcriptomics and Metabolomics

Abstract

Tumor cells use amino acids to rewire metabolic pathways to meet increased demands for energy, reducing equivalents, and cellular biosynthesis. Aside acting as building blocks for protein synthesis, amino acids also function as metabolic intermediates for ATP generation and redox homeostasis, as well as fueling biosynthetic pathways. Tumor-related metabolic changes influence every stage of the interaction between cells and their metabolites. Over the years, advancements in molecular methods such as transcriptomics and metabolomics have emerged to provide in-depth knowledge into the functions, interactions, and actions of molecules in cells of organisms. These technologies surfaced as methods that provide a more complete picture of disease pathophysiology, facilitating the elucidation of disease mechanisms and identification of potential biomarkers (metabolites) and targets (genes) respectively. Though Omics in cancer research have been explored in different concepts, however, employing these methods in amino acid metabolism in hematological cancers still requires attention. Therefore, this mini review discusses an up-to-date knowledge of principal regulators and their role in amino acid metabolism in hematological malignancies. In that perspective, we cover relevant findings from transcriptomics and metabolomics, thereby constructing mechanistic insights associated with disease pathogenesis.