Metabolism and epigenetics: drivers of tumor cell plasticity and treatment outcomes

Benjamin N. Gantner, Flavio R. Palma, Madhura R. Pandkar, Marcelo J. Sakiyama, Daniel Arango, Gina M. DeNicola, Ana P. Gomes, Marcelo G. Bonini*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Emerging evidence indicates that metabolism not only is a source of energy and biomaterials for cell division but also acts as a driver of cancer cell plasticity and treatment resistance. This is because metabolic changes lead to remodeling of chromatin and reprogramming of gene expression patterns, furthering tumor cell phenotypic transitions. Therefore, the crosstalk between metabolism and epigenetics seems to hold immense potential for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for various aggressive tumors. Here, we highlight recent discoveries supporting the concept that the cooperation between metabolism and epigenetics enables cancer to overcome mounting treatment-induced pressures. We discuss how specific metabolites contribute to cancer cell resilience and provide perspective on how simultaneously targeting these key forces could produce synergistic therapeutic effects to improve treatment outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)992-1008
Number of pages17
JournalTrends in Cancer
Volume10
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2024

Funding

The Bonini laboratory is supported by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ( R01ES028149 , R01ES035723 , and R56ES033398 ), the National Cancer Institute ( R01CA216882 ), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ( R01HL163820 ), and the Lefkofsky Family Foundation Innovator Award, as well as philanthropic gifts from the H-Foundation and the Associate Board of the Lurie Cancer Center . The Bonini laboratory is supported by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R01ES028149, R01ES035723, and R56ES033398), the National Cancer Institute (R01CA216882), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL163820), and the Lefkofsky Family Foundation Innovator Award, as well as philanthropic gifts from the H-Foundation and the Associate Board of the Lurie Cancer Center. The Gomes Laboratory is supported by the New Innovator Award from OD/NIH (DP2AG0776980), an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award (RSG-22-164-01-MM), the National Institute of Aging (R21AG083720), the National Cancer Institute (R01CA279023), the Florida Health Department Bankhead-Coley Research Program (24B03), the Florida Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the Phi Beta Psi Sorority. The authors declare no competing interests.

Keywords

  • cancer metabolism
  • epigenetics
  • histones
  • metabolites
  • novel therapeutics
  • post-translational modifications

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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