Targeting the Immuno-Oncology Metabolism in Cancer

Cancer is a disparate disease and tumor cells requires continuous reprogramming of metabolic and signaling pathways to sustain growth and survival. Interplay between tumor and its microenvironment has a major role in defining the metabolic reprogramming, which also supports immune evasion of cancer cells. Cancer cells also modulate the metabolism of immune and stromal cells in their microenvironment. The role of metabolic crosstalk between tumor and immune cells and the mechanism related to change in immune cell function has not been sufficiently explored. Each metabolic pathway may have synergistic or adverse effects on cancer cells and immune cells depending upon the nutrient availability and metabolic waste. Immuno-oncology metabolism has immense potential to complement current treatment modalities and enhance therapeutic outcomes. In this book chapter, we describe the different metabolic pathways and their impact upon immune-oncology metabolism along with the possible therapeutic opportunities.