Aug 2026· Bioessays· Vol 48· 0 citations· 148 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Tumor evolution, from premalignant lesions to metastasis, is increasingly recognized as shaped by continuous interplay between tumor cells metabolism and their microenvironment, generating adaptive niches that sustain tumor progression and metastasis.
Abstract
Tumor evolution, from premalignant lesions to metastasis, is increasingly recognized as shaped by continuous interplay between tumor cells metabolism and their microenvironment. During tumor initiation, major oncogenic pathways drive early metabolic reprogramming of lipid, amino acid, and energy pathways to promote cell competition and clonal expansion. These metabolic changes reciprocally shape the tumor microenvironment (TME) through metabolite fluxes, extracellular matrix remodeling, and immune reprogramming, generating adaptive niches that sustain tumor progression and metastasis. Cancer cell metabolic adaptability becomes even more crucial to survive dissemination and adapt to a new, distant microenvironment.
miRNAs are short RNA transcripts that modulate gene expression after transcription and have emerged as pivotal regulators of cancer biology. A subset, termed oncomiRNAs, functions as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, influencing key cellular events such as cell growth, programmed cell death, neovascularization, tissue in...
T. Jeethy, Ram Muralee, Muralee Damodaran· Cancer Reports· 0 citations
This review systematically elaborates on the central role of "tumor-host" metabolic crosstalk in reshaping both the TME and the broader host macroenvironment, suggesting the need for multiscale metabolic interventions to improve cancer treatment efficacy.
Yi Zhang, Caixia Suo, Linchong Sun· Chinese Medical Journal· 0 citations
The tumor microenvironment (TME) refers to the non-malignant cellular and stromal components present within tumors, which play critical roles in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response. Among the diverse cellular constituents of the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a key...
It is proposed that mitochondrial transfer acts as a tripartite educator during metastasis by driving three coordinated programs: metabolic licensing, immune rewiring, and stromal remodeling.
Y. Duan, Anshu Li, Xun Hu et al.· Frontiers in Immunology· 0 citations
This review comprehensively examines the cellular and acellular architecture of the TME, emphasizing its spatial organization, metabolic reprogramming, mechanical properties, and immunological regulation across diverse tumor types.
R. Latif, Taufiq Nawaz· Critical reviews in oncology...· 0 citations
The degree to which the TME is responsive to different treatment modalities, the contribution of epigenetics, and the coordinated regulation of mitochondrial dynamics may contribute to a more informed theranostic application toward improving cancer diagnosis, treatment, and patient survival.
