Metabolic Rewiring During Metastasis: The Interplay Between the Environment and the Host

Abstract

Following escape from the primary tumor, cancer cells face diverse micro-environments during the metastatic cascade. To survive and establish outgrowth at a distant site, metastasizing cancer cells must undergo metabolic reprogramming to adapt to the changing conditions. However, the host in which the tumors grow also experiences metabolic adaptations in response to various environmental factors that can mediate cancer progression. In this review, we highlight the endogenous factors that determine host metabolism (nutrient availability at specific organs or the microbiome), as well as exogenous factors that influence host metabolism systemically or locally (diet, alcohol, physical activity, air pollution, and circadian rhythm). Furthermore, we elaborate on how these environment-induced metabolic changes can affect metastatic progression. Understanding the interplay between environmental factors, host metabolism, and metastatic progression may unveil potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.