The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells

Serine is crucial for tumor initiation, progression, and adaptive immunity. Metabolic pathways for serine synthesis, acquisition, and utilization in tumors and tumor-associated cells are influenced by various physiological factors and the tumor microenvironment, leading to metabolic reprogramming an...

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Main Authors: Hanning Lyu, Shuchang Bao, Lingyun Cai, Mengke Wang, Yuxin Liu, Yang Sun, Xiaoyang Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1509662/full
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author Hanning Lyu
Shuchang Bao
Lingyun Cai
Mengke Wang
Yuxin Liu
Yang Sun
Xiaoyang Hu
author_facet Hanning Lyu
Shuchang Bao
Lingyun Cai
Mengke Wang
Yuxin Liu
Yang Sun
Xiaoyang Hu
author_sort Hanning Lyu
collection DOAJ
description Serine is crucial for tumor initiation, progression, and adaptive immunity. Metabolic pathways for serine synthesis, acquisition, and utilization in tumors and tumor-associated cells are influenced by various physiological factors and the tumor microenvironment, leading to metabolic reprogramming and amplification. Excessive serine metabolism promotes abnormal macromolecule biosynthesis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic modifications, driving malignant transformation, proliferation, metastasis, immune suppression, and drug resistance in tumor cells. Restricting dietary serine intake or reducing the expression of serine synthetic enzymes can effectively slow tumor growth and extend patient survival. Consequently, targeting serine metabolism has emerged as a novel and promising research focus in cancer research. This paper reviews serine metabolic pathways and their roles in tumor development. It summarizes the influencing factors of serine metabolism. The article explores the significance of serine synthesis and metabolizing enzymes, along with related biomarkers, in tumor diagnosis and treatment, providing new insights for developing targeted therapies that modulate serine metabolism in cancer.
format Article
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-6554046afd4c46abbf09e94ef7ea81ec2025-08-20T02:08:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-04-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15096621509662The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cellsHanning LyuShuchang BaoLingyun CaiMengke WangYuxin LiuYang SunXiaoyang HuSerine is crucial for tumor initiation, progression, and adaptive immunity. Metabolic pathways for serine synthesis, acquisition, and utilization in tumors and tumor-associated cells are influenced by various physiological factors and the tumor microenvironment, leading to metabolic reprogramming and amplification. Excessive serine metabolism promotes abnormal macromolecule biosynthesis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic modifications, driving malignant transformation, proliferation, metastasis, immune suppression, and drug resistance in tumor cells. Restricting dietary serine intake or reducing the expression of serine synthetic enzymes can effectively slow tumor growth and extend patient survival. Consequently, targeting serine metabolism has emerged as a novel and promising research focus in cancer research. This paper reviews serine metabolic pathways and their roles in tumor development. It summarizes the influencing factors of serine metabolism. The article explores the significance of serine synthesis and metabolizing enzymes, along with related biomarkers, in tumor diagnosis and treatment, providing new insights for developing targeted therapies that modulate serine metabolism in cancer.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1509662/fullserine metabolismcancerone-carbon metabolismserine catabolismthe immunosuppressive microenvironment
spellingShingle Hanning Lyu
Shuchang Bao
Lingyun Cai
Mengke Wang
Yuxin Liu
Yang Sun
Xiaoyang Hu
The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells
Frontiers in Oncology
serine metabolism
cancer
one-carbon metabolism
serine catabolism
the immunosuppressive microenvironment
title The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells
title_full The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells
title_fullStr The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells
title_full_unstemmed The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells
title_short The role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells
title_sort role and research progress of serine metabolism in tumor cells
topic serine metabolism
cancer
one-carbon metabolism
serine catabolism
the immunosuppressive microenvironment
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1509662/full
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