Mitochondria and Metabolism in Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs)

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Cells will focus on the basic science and translational aspects of cancer metabolism, with a particular emphasis on energy metabolism and metabolic re-programing in cancer cells. This broadly includes mitochondrial, glycolytic, and fatty acid metabolism, as well as other areas of metabolism. We are also interested in how driver mutations, gene expression, and epigenetic regulation influence metabolism in cancer cells. Metabolic re-programing is the process by which metabolic pathways are altered in the various phases of cancer development, including tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Metabolic re-programing occurs in tumor cells, dormant tumor cells (DTCs), cancer stem cells (CSCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and tumor-initiating cells (TICs), as well as in cells that form part of the tumor microenvironment. Hence, metabolic reprograming is a key therapeutic target for the prevention of cancer development and the prevention of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Chemo-resistance and radio-resistance are thought to underlie treatment failure and poor clinical outcome in cancer patients. In this context, the metabolic mechanism(s) underpinning treatment failure have been attributed to metabolic flexibility. As a result of metabolic flexibility, cancer cells can change their preference for particular metabolic fuel sources, allowing them to survive and even thrive under harsh conditions.

This Special Issue provides an open access forum to compile a collection of original research and review articles on the role of metabolism and mitochondrial function in the cellular pathogenesis of cancer, drug resistance, and metastasis, with an emphasis on cancer stem cells and disease mechanisms.  We welcome submissions on a wide range of research topics, including the relationship between cancer stem cells and other metabolic processes, including oxidative stress and superoxide production, as well as the cell cycle, glycolysis, aging, and senescence.

Dr. Michael Lisanti
Dr. Christopher Albanese
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• cancer stem cells
• circulating tumor cells
• drug resistance
• metabolism
• mitochondria
• OXPHSOS
• mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
• glycolysis
• cell cycle
• DNA damage
• other metabolic processes
• oxidative stress
• senescence
• therapeutic approaches