The emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer

Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the three most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive system, with the highest mortality rate among gynecologic malignancies. Like other tumors, OC cells undergo metabolic reprogramming phenomenon and convert glucose metabolism into “aerobic glycoly...

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Main Authors: Bowen Jin, Zehua Miao, Junjie Pan, Zhen Zhang, Yibei Yang, Yidong Zhou, Yuanxiang Jin, Zheng Niu, Qiaoping Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03698-x
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author Bowen Jin
Zehua Miao
Junjie Pan
Zhen Zhang
Yibei Yang
Yidong Zhou
Yuanxiang Jin
Zheng Niu
Qiaoping Xu
author_facet Bowen Jin
Zehua Miao
Junjie Pan
Zhen Zhang
Yibei Yang
Yidong Zhou
Yuanxiang Jin
Zheng Niu
Qiaoping Xu
author_sort Bowen Jin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the three most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive system, with the highest mortality rate among gynecologic malignancies. Like other tumors, OC cells undergo metabolic reprogramming phenomenon and convert glucose metabolism into “aerobic glycolysis” and generate a high concentration of lactate, i.e., the “Warburg effect”, which provides a large amount of energy and corresponding intermediary metabolites for their survival, reproduction and metastasis. Numerous studies have shown that targeted inhibition of aerobic glycolysis and lactate metabolism is a promising strategy to enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to immunotherapy. Therefore, this review summarizes the metabolic features of glycolysis in OC cells and highlights how abnormal lactate concentration affects the differentiation, metabolism, and function of infiltrating immune cells, which contributes to immunosuppression, and how targeted inhibition of this phenomenon may be a potential strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of OC.
format Article
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issn 1475-2867
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Cancer Cell International
spelling doaj-art-a8463a6c851b4be7bb0d49f6249085ba2025-08-20T03:05:49ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-03-0125111810.1186/s12935-025-03698-xThe emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancerBowen Jin0Zehua Miao1Junjie Pan2Zhen Zhang3Yibei Yang4Yidong Zhou5Yuanxiang Jin6Zheng Niu7Qiaoping Xu8Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Cancer Center, Westlake University School of MedicineDalian Medical UniversityFourth Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityDepartment of Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer HospitalFourth Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityFourth Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityFourth Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityDepartment of Gynecology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Cancer Center, Westlake University School of MedicineDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Cancer Center, Westlake University School of MedicineAbstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the three most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive system, with the highest mortality rate among gynecologic malignancies. Like other tumors, OC cells undergo metabolic reprogramming phenomenon and convert glucose metabolism into “aerobic glycolysis” and generate a high concentration of lactate, i.e., the “Warburg effect”, which provides a large amount of energy and corresponding intermediary metabolites for their survival, reproduction and metastasis. Numerous studies have shown that targeted inhibition of aerobic glycolysis and lactate metabolism is a promising strategy to enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to immunotherapy. Therefore, this review summarizes the metabolic features of glycolysis in OC cells and highlights how abnormal lactate concentration affects the differentiation, metabolism, and function of infiltrating immune cells, which contributes to immunosuppression, and how targeted inhibition of this phenomenon may be a potential strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of OC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03698-xOvarian cancerGlycolysisMicroenvironmentImmune evasionImmunotherapy
spellingShingle Bowen Jin
Zehua Miao
Junjie Pan
Zhen Zhang
Yibei Yang
Yidong Zhou
Yuanxiang Jin
Zheng Niu
Qiaoping Xu
The emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer
Cancer Cell International
Ovarian cancer
Glycolysis
Microenvironment
Immune evasion
Immunotherapy
title The emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer
title_full The emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer
title_fullStr The emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer
title_full_unstemmed The emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer
title_short The emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer
title_sort emerging role of glycolysis and immune evasion in ovarian cancer
topic Ovarian cancer
Glycolysis
Microenvironment
Immune evasion
Immunotherapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03698-x
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