The role of circular RNAs in glucose metabolic reprogramming: impact on cancer progression and therapeutic implications in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common female malignant tumors, which seriously endangers human health. Glucose metabolic reprogramming in rapidly proliferating cancers drives increased glycolysis to meet energy needs, promoting tumor growth, acidifying the tumor microenvironment, and impairing immune function, which diminishes therapeutic efficacy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as key regulators of cellular processes, are increasingly recognized for their involvement in the metabolic reprogramming of cancer. Concurrently, specific circRNAs could be released by tumor cells via exosomes to facilitate intercellular communication, significantly impacting glucose metabolism, cancer progression, and therapy resistance. However, the role of circRNAs in breast cancer and their mechanisms in regulating glucose metabolism remain unclear. Therefore, elucidating these metabolic regulatory pathways could provide valuable insights for developing targeted strategies to exploit metabolic vulnerabilities and improve the prognosis of breast cancer.

Keywords

Breast cancer / glucose metabolic reprogramming / exosome / metastasis / prognosis

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