Cancer metabolism and epigenetic reprogramming

Cell metabolism and epigenetic regulation are inextricably linked. Metabolic products produced or imported by cells provide the necessary reactants for the enzymes that decorate our genome. These decorations to our histone and DNA code (epigenetics) regulate gene expression and cell fate. Cancer has an altered metabolism that makes it highly dependent on various nutrients. As an example methionine, which forms S-adenosyl-methionine, is used to methylate our DNA. Cancer cells are unable to synthesize their methionine, making them methionine dependent. Cell replication in the absence of methionine may result in passive global demethylation of DNA. This passive demethylation is associated with tumor progression. Understanding the role of metabolism in cancer epigenetics will help us understand how tumors evolve and become more challenging to treat.