Both glycolytic and mitochondrial-type energy production can sustain tumor propagation by isogenic GSCs. Whereas both phenotypes can be independent and stable, cells that rely on oxidative phosphorylation can also switch to a more glycolytic phenotype in response to metabolic stress, suggesting that plasticity is a further characteristic of GSC metabolism.
The metabolic characteristics of glioma cells appear early during malignant transformation and persist until the late stages of tumor formation. Even isogenic clones may be heterogeneous in terms of metabolic features, however, suggesting that a more detailed understanding of the metabolic profile of glioma is imperative for effective therapeutic targeting.
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