Fig. 2.

Functions of metabolic alteration in cancer. Genetic mutations and growth signals in cancer cells and microenvironments within large tumors can dynamically alter metabolic pathways and modulate the regulation of metabolic pathways. This results in increased biosynthesis and abnormal bioenergy production, both of which promote cell proliferation, avoidance of immune-based destruction, metastasis, and survival. Furthermore, metabolic remodeling regulates tumor epigenetic alterations by regulating the activity of epigenetic modification enzymes because of the effect on gene expression in cancer.