Cancer Metabolism: Historical Landmarks, New Concepts, and Opportunities.

Cancer cells undergo changes in metabolism that distinguish them from non-malignant tissue. These may provide a growth advantage by promoting oncogenic signaling and redirecting intermediates to anabolic pathways that provide building blocks for new cellular components. Cancer metabolism is far from uniform, however, and recent work has shed light on its heterogenity within and between tumors. This work is also revealing how cancer metabolism adapts to the tumor microenvironment, as well as ways in which we may capitalize on metabolic changes in cancer cells to create new therapies.