Abstract

A REVIEW ON THE CARBOHYDRATE ROLES IN ETIOLOGY, METABOLISM AND MANAGEMENT OF CANCER

Adel Abdel-Moneim* and Rania Amgd

ABSTRACT

Cancer cells can rewire cellular metabolism to satisfy their demands for growth and proliferation. Altered tumor metabolism is now a generally regarded hallmark of cancer. Cancer cells are highly dependent on glucose as their substrate for energy production. Tumors consume larger amounts of glucose compared to normal tissues with most being converted into lactate and excreted, despite the abundant oxygen (Warburg effect), which demonstrates an increased glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen, the genetic factors such as oncogenes and tumor suppressors and micro environmental factors such as spatial hypoxia and acidosis can regulate the glycolytic metabolism of cancer cells. Biochemical and molecular studies suggest several possible mechanisms by which this metabolic alteration may evolve during cancer development. It has been hypothesized that targeting glucose metabolism may provide a selective mechanism by which to kill cancer cells. In recent years, there are significant progresses in understanding of the cancer metabolic mechanisms and the potential therapeutic implications. Moreover, a better understanding of tumor metabolism may enable the development and optimization of therapeutic strategies that target tumor progression. This review summarized the role of carbohydrates in initiation, development, prevention and treatment of cancer and the metabolism changes of carbohydrates in cancer cells.

Keywords: cancer, carbohydrate metabolism, diabetes, glycolysis in cancer cells, cancer treatment.