Targeting Glucose Metabolism in Cancer Immunotherapy: A Promising Avenue for Enhanced Treatment Strategies

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as an innovative strategy for treating multiple types of cancer. Recent breakthroughs have emphasized the significance of altering glucose metabolism in malignant cells; specifically, the heightened dependency of cancer cells on glucose metabolism (“Warburg effect”), where cancer cells alter their metabolic pathway so that they utilize glucose as an energy source, even when oxygen is present. This adaptation allows for rapid tumor cell proliferation, enabling them to grow and divide at an accelerated pace. Current research concentrates on the development of cancer treatments aimed at inhibiting glucose metabolism in cancer cells. This approach aims to improve the effectiveness of existing immunotherapies by utilizing the metabolic pathways of malignant cells through direct and indirect inhibition of glycolysis. This review discusses the interplay between glucose metabolism and immune response, explores current efforts in manipulating glucose metabolism for therapeutic benefits, and provides insights into future directions for optimizing this strategy.