Cancer Metabolism: What It Is, How It Works - WebMD

Cancer metabolism is a process in which cancer cells make the energy they need to grow and spread. It's a target for researchers working to stop or slow ... MenuCancerHomeBladderCancerBrainCancerBreastCancerCervicalCancerColorectalCancerLeukemia&LymphomaLungCancerMelanomaMultipleMyelomaOvarianCancerPancreaticCancerProstateCancerOverview&FactsRisks&PreventionSymptoms&SignsCancerTypesDiagnosis&TestsYourCancerCareTeamCancerTreatmentCutting-EdgeTreatmentsLiving&ManagingRemission&RecurrenceSupport&ResourcesAllGuideTopicsNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersFindanOncologistBook:TakeControlofYourCancerRiskCancerA-ZMoreCancerTopicsCancerCancerGuideMenuTargetedTherapiesNewApproachesCancermetabolismisaprocessinwhichcancercellsmaketheenergytheyneedtogrowandspread.It’satargetforresearchersworkingtostoporslowdowncancers.Metabolismishowthecellsinyourbodyusecarbohydrates,fats,andproteinsfromfoodtogettheenergytheyneedtogrow,reproduce,andstayhealthy.Cancercellsdothatdifferently.Comparedtohealthycells,theyusemoreglucose(atypeofcarbohydrate).Andtheycreatelessenergywhilemakingwhattheyneedtomultiplyandspread.Stoppingthatprocesswhileleavinghealthycellsaloneisagoal.TargetedTherapiesTheseareanewerapproachtocancertreatment.Unlikechemotherapyandradiation,targetedtherapiesdon’timmediatelykillcancercells.Instead,theykeepcancercellsfromgrowingbychangingorslowingthecancermetabolism.Thetumoreventuallyshrinksanddies.Becauseofthewaytheywork,targetedtherapiesaffectmainlycancerscellsandleavenormal,healthycellsalone.Theydon’tkillthecancercellsrightaway.Theystopthemfromcopyingthemselvesandmakingnewones.Sotheydon’tdamagenormal,healthycellsthewaychemotherapydoes.Targetedtherapiesmaybeusedinthetreatmentofseveraltypesofcancer,includingbladder,breast,lung,kidney,gastric(stomach),melanoma,sometypesofleukemiaandlymphoma,andothers.NewApproachesResearchersareworkingtocomeupwithnewwaystohampercancermetabolism.Thisworkisintheearlystages--mostlyinlabstudiesandtestsinanimals.Itisn’treadyforuseinpeopleyet.Potentialtargetsinclude:Glucose.Earlylabstudiesshowthatreducingglucosewithmedicationsorchangesindiet(orboth)mayhelptreatcancer.It’stoosoontoknowifthiswillworkinpeople,orwhatthebestplanis,orwhichcancersitworksfor.Aminoacids.Cancercellsalsouseaminoacids,whicharebuildingblocksforproteinsinyourbody,togrow.Targetingcertainonescouldcutoffacancer’s“food”supply.Cancer’smessagingsystems.Somecancercellshavecertaintypesofproteinsandenzymesthatdifferfromthoseofnormalcells.Theysendmessagestohelpthemgrowandspread.Medicationscouldblockorturnoffsignalsthatsendthesemessages,orsignalthecancercellstodestroythemselves.Nutritionisanotherareaofresearch.Someofthisworklooksattheeffectsoffastingandketodiets.Ifyou’relookingatdietasawaytospecificallytargetcancermetabolism,keepinmindthattherearen’tguidelinesonhowtodothisyet.Expertsrecommendthatpeoplewithcancereatanddrinkawidevarietyoffoodsthatprovidenutrientssuchasvitamins,minerals,protein,carbohydrates,fat,andwater.TheAmericanCancerSocietyrecommendseatingavarietyofvegetables,fruits,wholegrains,beans,legumes,andlimitingredmeat,processedmeat,sugar-sweeteneddrinks,andhighlyprocessedfoods.NextArticleCAR-TCellTherapyCancerGuideOverview&FactsRisks&PreventionSymptoms&SignsCancerTypesDiagnosis&TestsYourCancerCareTeamCancerTreatmentCutting-EdgeTreatmentsLiving&ManagingRemission&RecurrenceSupport&ResourcesAllGuideTopicsChemo:3ThingsYouNeedtoKnowLowerYourRiskofCancerLiverCancer:Symptoms,Tests,andTreatmentsHowImmunotherapyforCancerWorksCancerRemission:WhatDoesItMean?PreparingforChemotherapyLungCancerSymptomsWhatyouneedtoknow.StemCellTransplantsHowtheyworkforbloodcancers.BreastCancerQuizSeparatefactfromfiction.CancerSideEffectsAndhowtobesttreatthem.ArticleCommonCarcinogensYouShouldKnowSlideshowYourGuidetoThyroidCancerSLIDESHOWBreastCancer:Symptoms,TreatmentSLIDESHOWAllAboutProstateCancerSLIDESHOWComplementaryTreatmentforCancerSLIDESHOWAVisualGuidetoLungCancerSLIDESHOWOvarianCancerExplainedArticleTreatmentsforChronicMyelogenousLeukemiaHealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads