The Interplay between Dysregulated Metabolism and Epigenetics in Cancer

Abstract

Cellular metabolism (or energetics) and epigenetics are tightly coupled cellular processes. It is arguable that of all the described cancer hallmarks, dysregulated cellular energetics and epigenetics are the most tightly coregulated. Cellular metabolic states regulate and drive epigenetic changes while also being capable of influencing, if not driving, epigenetic reprogramming. Conversely, epigenetic changes can drive altered and compensatory metabolic states. Cancer cells meticulously modify and control each of these two linked cellular processes in order to maintain their tumorigenic potential and capacity. This review aims to explore the interplay between these two processes and discuss how each affects the other, driving and enhancing tumorigenic states in certain contexts.

Allicin and Cancer Hallmarks

“…Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming to fulfill their heightened nutritional needs for unregulated growth. The dysregulated metabolism enables cancer cells to obtain nutrients from environments with low nutritional levels and sustain cell survival and proliferation [ 94 ]. The metabolic changes observed in cancer cells encompass enhanced glycolysis, disrupted amino acid metabolism, inhibited oxidative phosphorylation, and increased fatty acid production.…”