Cancer Stem Cell & Oncology Research

Metabolic Characteristics of Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer stem cells exhibit distinct metabolic characteristics that support their long term survival and self renewal capacity. Unlike differentiated tumor cells that often rely on a single dominant metabolic pathway, cancer stem cells display metabolic flexibility, allowing them to adapt to fluctuating nutrient and oxygen availability. They can shift between glycolytic metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative processes depending on environmental conditions. This adaptability supports energy production, redox balance, and biosynthetic demands. Metabolic regulation is closely linked to stemness signaling and cellular fate decisions. Altered lipid metabolism and amino acid utilization also contribute to membrane synthesis and stress resistance. Reactive oxygen species levels are tightly controlled in cancer stem cells, preventing oxidative damage while maintaining signaling functions. These metabolic traits distinguish cancer stem cells from other tumor cell populations and highlight the biological integration of metabolism with cellular identity. Understanding these metabolic features provides insight into how cancer stem cells maintain viability in hostile tumor environments.