Special Issues
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Metabolic Heterogeneity in Cancer: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Implications

Submission Deadline: 31 March 2026 View: 934 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Dr. Qi Zhang

Email: zhang.qi@yale.edu

Affiliation: Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine,New Haven, CT 06510, United States

Homepage:

Research Interests: Malnutrition, Genetic, Metabolism


Dr. Zhengrui Li

Email: lzr_0108@sjtu.edu.cn

Affiliation: School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 20000, China.

Homepage:

Research Interests: Tumor Microenvironment, Cancer Microbiome, Gentic


Dr. Qi Wang

Email: drwang71111@sjtu.edu.cn

Affiliation: Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, China

Homepage:

Research Interests: Tumor Microenvironment, Multi-omics, Metabolic Heterogeneity


Summary

Tumor metabolic reprogramming is now recognized as a defining hallmark of cancer, driving malignant progression, therapeutic resistance and immune evasion. Yet, recent studies reveal that these metabolic adaptations are not monolithic: they vary markedly between tumor types, evolve over the course of disease and even coexist in distinct subpopulations within a single lesion. Such metabolic heterogeneity not only underlies the failure of one‐size‐fits‐all treatments but also creates unique vulnerabilities that can be exploited for patient‐tailored interventions.


This Special Issue seeks to deepen our understanding of cancer metabolic diversity by inviting contributions that unravel its molecular drivers, delineate context‐specific metabolic phenotypes and identify robust biomarkers for stratification. We particularly encourage studies employing integrative multi‐omics technologies, spatially resolved metabolomic profiling and advanced computational modeling to map the dynamic metabolic landscape of tumors. In addition, translational research that bridges bench to bedside—such as the preclinical validation of metabolism‐targeted agents, companion diagnostics and predictive algorithms—is highly welcomed.


By illuminating the mechanisms and clinical implications of metabolic heterogeneity, this collection aims to pave the way toward more precise, effective and durable cancer therapies.


Keywords

cancer metabolic heterogeneity, tumor metabolism and therapy resistance, metabolic plasticity, warburg effect and beyond, spatial metabolomics, multi-omics integration, immune-metabolism interactions, metabolic biomarkers, metabolism-targeted therapies, personalized oncology

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Identify MTDH as a Key Gene of Radio-Resistance in Colorectal Cancer Based on Multi-Omics and Experimental Validation

    Wei Xu, Yuanyuan Zhang, Yizhi Ge, Yesong Guo
    Oncology Research, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.075314
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Metabolic Heterogeneity in Cancer: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Implications)
    Abstract Objectives: Radio-resistance hinders the effectiveness of radiotherapy for treating colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Metadherin (MTDH) is proposed to exert a pivotal role in resistance to radiotherapy in various malignancies. This study aims to investigate the precise impact of MTDH on CRC radio-resistance. Methods: Through a fusion of 14 machine learning algorithms and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretability analysis, we pinpointed MTDH as a pivotal gene implicated in radio-resistance mechanisms. Subsequently, we investigated MTDH expression in CRC tissues using single-cell RNA sequencing data (scRNA-seq) and bulk transcriptomic data. MTDH level was also examined in tissues from… More >

  • Open Access

    REVIEW

    Circular RNAs: Key Regulators of Tumor Metabolic Reprogramming and Clinical Translation

    Yimao Wu, Yitong Liu, Ruowei Sun, Yiyuan Zhang, Qian Zhang, Chen Li, Mengyao Li
    Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.3, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.075012
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Metabolic Heterogeneity in Cancer: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Implications)
    Abstract Tumor metabolic reprogramming is a core hallmark of cancer, characterized by pathways such as aerobic glycolysis, aberrant lipid metabolism, and glutaminolysis that support rapid proliferation and immunosuppressive microenvironments. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly stable, evolutionarily conserved non-coding RNAs that have emerged as critical modulators of these metabolic shifts. This review aims to systematically elucidate the roles and mechanisms of circRNAs in reprogramming tumor metabolism, and to discuss their clinical potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Through mechanisms including miRNA sponging, protein interactions, regulation of mitochondrial dynamics, and modulation of metabolic enzymes, circRNAs influence key metabolic… More >

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