Figure 1.

Metabolic reprogramming in cancer progression. (A) Driver mutations of cancer leads to metabolic reprogramming in primary tumors. (B) epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression leads to a further shift towards glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and glutamine metabolism. (C) circulating tumor cells (CTCs) activate a prominent antioxidant response while, at the same time, maintaining the glycolytic flux. (D) MET revert the metabolic reprogramming of EMT, with mitochondrial respiration and lipogenesis upregulation. (E) Dormant cells in metastases mainly rely on mitochondrial respiration, autophagy, and fatty acid oxidation. (F) The progression towards overt metastases requires a dense interplay with the surrounding niche, with a simultaneous addiction to glycolysis, mitochondrial respiration, and fatty acid oxidation.