Future perspective: metabolism as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia – from Warburg to precision medicine

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly malignant blood cancer disease, with dismal prognosis.The theory that cancer cells utilize metabolism to their growth advantage was postulated almost hundred years ago. However, only recently have been able to take advantage of this Achilles heel of malignant cell growth. Current observations suggest a crucial role for various metabolic pathways in AML, and special in leukemia stem cells (LSC), believed to be responsible for re-initiation of the leukemic clone, and hence relapse of this devastating disease. In the present article we discuss the features for metabolism in AML based on recent research, and special emphasizing the potential of pharmacological inhibiting metabolism as new treatment approaches.