A recent review of cancer research reveals that metabolic plasticity, the ability of cancer cells to change how they use energy, is a primary driver of tumor growth and treatment resistance. The review, covering English-language studies from 2015 to 2025, describes a complex network of transcription factors, signaling pathways, and mitochondrial dynamics that govern this process.
The authors highlight several key players, including transcription factors like HIF-1α, MYC, and p53, as well as metabolic enzymes such as HK2, PKM2, and IDH1/2. They also point to mitochondrial dynamics, including biogenesis and fission, as a critical regulatory layer. The review notes that epigenetic changes, mediated by molecules like acetyl-CoA and α-ketoglutarate, amplify oncogenic programs.
Several drugs already target these pathways, including ivosidenib and enasidenib for IDH1/2 mutations, belzutifan for HIF-2α, and everolimus for mTOR. However, the review is a narrative summary of existing research, not a new clinical trial. It does not report on safety or effectiveness of these drugs.
Because this is a review, not a controlled study, the findings are based on published research and may be subject to publication bias. The rapidly evolving nature of the field means new discoveries could change the picture. Readers should understand this as a broad overview of current knowledge, not a definitive guide to treatment.
