Metabolic reprogramming enables hepatocarcinoma cells to efficiently adapt and survive to a nutrient-restricted microenvironment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a metabolically heterogeneous cancer and the use of glucose by HCC cells could impact their tumorigenicity. Dt81Hepa1-6 cells display enhanced tumorigenicity compared to parental Hepa1-6 cells. This increased tumorigenicity could be explained by a metabolic adaptation to more restrictive microenvironments.