BIOL 5420 Cancer As A Metabolic Disease

Satisfies the advanced experience requirement for the Biology major. This seminar will review evidence showing that impaired cellular energy metabolism is the defining characteristic of nearly all cancers regardless of cellular or tissue origin. In contrast to normal cells, which derive most of their usable energy from oxidative phosphorylation, nearly all cancer cells become dependent on non-oxidative substrate level phosphorylations to meet energy demands. Evidence will be discussed supporting a general hypothesis that all hallmarks of cancer including genomic instability and metastasis can be linked to impaired mitochondrial function. A view of cancer as a metabolic disease will impact approaches to cancer management and prevention.