Tumor cells have unique energy metabolism phenomena, namely high glucose absorption, aerobic glycolysis and high lactic acid production, which are characterized by down-regulation of related proteins involved in oxidative metabolism in tumor cells, and up-regulation of glucose transporters and monocarboxylate transporters. Studies have shown that drugs that target tumor cell glucose metabolism have the ability to selectively kill tumor cells, bringing new hope for tumor treatment. Tumor stem cells are considered to be the root cause of tumor recurrence, metastasis and poor prognosis, and their energy metabolism characteristics have not yet been agreed. Studies have shown that reversing the energy metabolism of tumor stem cells can increase their chemosensitivity. This article reviews recent studies on tumor and tumor stem cell glucose metabolism and the opportunities and challenges of tumor treatment through targeting glucose metabolism, which might provide new ideas and opportunities for clinical tumor therapy.
The aim of this study is to construct an injectable gel with stable phototherapy and chemotherapy. Res-PTX@IR780 gel with phototherapy and chemotherapy property was prepared by introduction of photosensitizer IR780 and antioxidant resveratrol (Res) into the polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution of paclitaxel (PTX). The results showed that PTX, PTX@IR780 and Res-PTX@IR780 could form gels and the gels were injectable. ATR-FTIR results indicated not only components of the gels but also the formation of hydrogen bonding during the gelation. The results of UV showed instability of IR780 solution and stability improvement of Res-IR780 solution under infrared radiation (IR) irradiation. Photothermal tests showed that Res-PTX@IR780 displayed better photothermal conversion and photothermal stability under multiple irradiations than PTX@IR780. The results of in vivo exploration in mice showed that the skin site injected with Res-PTX@IR780 gel heated up from 35 ℃ to 64 ℃, and the temperature difference was up to 30 ℃. Res-PTX@IR780 gel is very promising as a combination agent of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy for the in situ treatment of tumors due to good photothermal conversion and photothermal stability under multiple irradiations.
Objective To provide an overview of the main anti-tumor mechanisms of attenuated Salmonella typhimurium（ST） and explore potential reasons for the limited clinical application of attenuated ST. Methods The literatures related to clinical and basic research on attenuated ST tumor treatment and virulence at home and abroad in recent years were reviewed and the relevant mechanisms of attenuated ST tumor treatment were summarized. And then, analyses were made regarding the failure of clinical application experiments of attenuated ST based on the characteristics of attenuated ST and the human immune microenvironment. Results Attenuated ST could inhibit the growth of primary tumors and reduce the metastasis of secondary tumor due to its effect of tumor-targeting, its property of facultative anaerobic and its characteristic of being able to carry plasmids. On the other hand, the toxicity of wild strains to hosts had been reduced through biotechnology. In terms of clinical application, the anti-tumor effect of attenuated ST was far lower than expected due to excessive detoxification of ST, the elimination effect of foreign substances by the human immune system, and the inactivation effect of various proteases in the body. Conclusion As an emerging bacterial mediated anti-tumor therapy, attenuated ST will provide a new treatment option for precise treatment of cancer patients once its clinical application problems are solved.