Combating anticancer and antibacterial drug resistance by metabolic targeting

Bacteria and cancer cells activate defense mechanisms driven by central carbon and amino acid metabolism to overcome drug-induced stress. 

Drug tolerance and persistence are driven by a dormant state in bacteria, whereas cancer cells upregulate energy metabolism to withstand prolonged drug exposure.

Biofilms, granulomas, and the tumor microenvironment share hypoxic and acidic conditions, where cells rely on anaerobic and lipid metabolism for survival.

Macrophage immunometabolism influences disease progression in tuberculosis and cancer. Common approaches for overcoming drug resistance include blocking metabolic targets that enhance drug lethality and synergistic drug combinations.

Drug repurposing, dietary interventions, and immunotherapy have shown use in cancer, but their antibacterial potential remains underexplored.

https://www.cell.com/trends/pharmacological-sciences/fulltext/S0165-6147(26)00017-9

https://sciencemission.com/Targeting-metabolism-to-combat-anticancer