Metabolic Alterations in Cancer: from Targeting Metabolism to Cancer Detection

Cancer cells are defined by their rapid, uncontrolled growth, driven by genetic mutations that not only promote constant proliferative signaling but also alter cellular metabolism to meet energy and biomass demands. This metabolic rewiring in cancer cells supports their growth and survival, underlining the critical role of metabolic pathways in oncology. Despite significant progress in understanding these pathways, the complex nature of metabolic alterations in cancer still presents substantial challenges, revealing a compelling need for deeper investigation and innovative research approaches.

The goal of this Research Topic is to advance our understanding of metabolic alterations in cancer, focusing on their potential to enhance therapeutic strategies and enable the discovery of predictive biomarkers. We invite authors to contribute impactful articles that either provide new insights or validate existing concepts with robust data, thereby shaping future directions in cancer research.

In order to thoroughly explore this subject, submissions should focus on but not be limited to the following themes:
• Targeting metabolic pathways for cancer therapy
• Uncovering novel links between cell signaling and metabolic alterations
• Identifying metabolic biomarkers for specific cancer types
• Investigating the role of cation channels in metabolism and signal transduction
• Developing advanced methodologies for detecting polar and non-polar metabolites
• Exploring the relationship between ferroptosis and cancer metabolism


We accept different article types including Mini-Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.


Please note: studies consisting solely of bioinformatic investigation of publicly available genomic/transcriptomic/proteomic data do not fall within the scope of the section unless they are expanded and provide significant biological or mechanistic insight into the process being studied and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.

Keywords: Metabolism, Cancer, Cell Signaling, Biomarkers, Metabolomics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.