High Glucose Contribution to the TCA Cycle Is a Feature of Aggressive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Patients

Cancer Discov. 2025 Apr 2;15(4):702-716. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-1319.

Abstract

Intraoperative 13C-glucose infusions in patients with NSCLC show that tumors with high labeling of TCA cycle intermediates progress rapidly, resulting in metastasis and early death. Blocking this pathway suppresses metastasis of human NSCLC cells in mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Citric Acid Cycle*
  • Glucose* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Mice

Substances

  • Glucose