The BCI Cancer Metabolism Hub is a community of research groups that are investigating the fundamental metabolic alterations that take place in human cancers, translating these novel discoveries into clinical advances. The work performed by this group encompasses the whole range of translational research from understanding the basic science of cancer metabolism, through to leading advanced phase clinical trials of novel anti-metabolic therapies in cancer patients.
Why study cancer metabolism?
Almost 100 years ago, Otto Warburg discovered that cancer cells exhibit an altered metabolism: switching from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis (now termed the Warburg effect). Although quiet for many years, the field of cancer metabolism has experienced a revolution in the last decade. It is now recognized as one of the hallmarks of cancer, and metabolism research is rapidly evolving and expanding to unveil new pathways and molecular mechanisms beyond the Warburg effect: for example, changes in the metabolism of sugars, lipids, amino acids and other sources of energy. As a result, new therapeutic approaches targeting cellular metabolism are being tested with varied success in different cancer types, expanding the range of current treatment options.
