posted on 2024-05-29, 10:05authored byYounghwan Lee, Karen H Vousden, Marc Hennequart
Metabolic changes contribute to cancer initiation and progression through effects on cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment and whole-body metabolism. Alterations in serine metabolism and the control of one-carbon cycles have emerged as critical for the development of many tumor types. In this Review, we focus on the mitochondrial folate cycle. We discuss recent evidence that, in addition to supporting nucleotide synthesis, mitochondrial folate metabolism also contributes to metastasis through support of antioxidant defense, mitochondrial protein synthesis and the overflow of excess formate. These observations offer potential therapeutic opportunities, including the modulation of formate metabolism through dietary interventions and the use of circulating folate cycle metabolites as biomarkers for cancer detection.
Funding
Crick (Grant ID: CC2073, Grant title: Vousden CC2073)
European Research Council (Grant ID: 101020641 - PancObese, Grant title: ERC 101020641 - PancObese)
Cancer Research UK (Grant ID: 26855, Grant title: CRUK C596/A26855)