Fig. 2.

CSC nutrient metabolism. CSC plasticity is further demonstrated by the ability of these cells to alter substrate utilization as an adaptive advantage in states of limited nutrient availability. In the context of glucose metabolism, the Warburg effect, as well as oxidative phosphorylation, have been shown to contribute to the CSC phenotype. CSCs can also scavenge glucose from nutrient-poor environments by upregulating surface expression of glucose transporters. Additionally, investigation into lipid metabolism in these cells has revealed an important role for fatty acid oxidation and lipid uptake in CSC proliferation and maintenance. Amino acid metabolism in GBM CSCs is an emerging area of study but existing data provide evidence for the importance of glutamine, asparagine, and branched chain amino acid metabolism in regulating the stem cell state.