Immunometabolism in the Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

Advances in immunotherapy have underscored the importance of antitumor immune responses in controlling cancer. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) imposes several obstacles to the proper function of immune cells, including a metabolically challenging and immunosuppressive microenvironment. The increased metabolic activity of tumor cells can lead to the depletion of key nutrients required by immune cells and the accumulation of byproducts that hamper antitumor immunity. Furthermore, the presence of suppressive immune cells, such as regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and the expression of immune inhibitory receptors can negatively impact immune cell metabolism and function. This review summarizes the metabolic reprogramming that is characteristic of various immune cell subsets, discusses how the metabolism and function of immune cells are shaped by the TME, and highlights how therapeutic interventions aimed at improving the metabolic fitness of immune cells and alleviating the metabolic constraints in the TME can boost antitumor immunity.