Metabolic insights into tumor pathogenesis: Unveiling pan-cancer metabolism and the potential of untargeted metabolomics

Abstract

Metabolic dysregulation is a hallmark of cancer, underpinning diverse aggressive behaviors such as uncontrolled proliferation, immune evasion, and metastasis. Despite the potential of tumor metabolites as biomarkers, their utility has been hampered by metabolic heterogeneity. Exploring cancer metabolism aims to discern shared metabolic pathways and have a better understanding the metabolic heterogeneity of tumors. This approach offers a holistic view of cancer metabolism, facilitating the identification of multicancer-relevant metabolic targets and the development of more broadly effective therapeutics. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of cancer metabolism and its prospective applications in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. We delineate common metabolic aberrations observed across a spectrum of cancer types and elucidate the unique metabolic signatures characterizing the six leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Furthermore, we survey the utilization of untargeted metabolomics and single-cell technologies in cancer screening, diagnosis, and prognosis, while also spotlighting available data resources for pan-cancer metabolomics analyses. Throughout this discussion, we tackle prevailing research challenges and propose strategies aimed at enhancing cancer management. Our objective is to furnish valuable insights that can inform and guide future research endeavors in the dynamic realm of cancer metabolism.