Conflicting metabolic alterations in cancer stem cells and regulation by the stromal niche

Recent studies have revealed that cancer stem cells (CSCs) undergo metabolic alterations that differentiate them from non-CSCs. Inhibition of specific metabolic pathways in CSCs has been conducted to eliminate the CSC population in many types of cancer. However, there is conflicting evidence about whether CSCs depend on glycolysis or mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to maintain their stem cell properties. This review summarizes the latest knowledge regarding CSC-specific metabolic alterations and offers recent evidence that the surrounding microenvironments may play an important role in the maintenance of CSC properties.
Highlights • CSCs use conflicting metabolic alterations, glycolysis and mitochondrial OXPHOS, differently depending on the circumstances. • Metabolic interactions between CSCs and the stromal niche are important for the maintenance of CSC mitochondrial OXPHOS. • CSCs generally maintain low ROS levels and exhibit redox patterns to survive and retain their stemness.