Liver Glycogen Storage in Mice (cropped from the image by Libertas Academica via Wikimedia Commons)

Cancer cell metabolism transitions from conventional oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic fermentation, a process that quickly burns through available glucose. Liu et al. have now demonstrated that the stockpiling of glucose as glycogen can directly contribute to initiation of tumorigenesis. Working with both mouse and human liver tissue, the authors show that excess glycogen aggregates into droplets, which in turn activate signaling pathways that actively promote cell transformation. Accordingly, genetically modified mice with elevated glycogen were more prone to hepatocellular carcinoma, while those with depleted glycogen were at far lower risk. These results suggest that glycogen storage could offer both a biomarker for early diagnosis and a target to intercept cancer at an early stage.

Liu Q, … Zhou D. Cell. 2021 Oct 28;184(22):5559-5576.e19.

Illustration of transitional epithelium with two emerging tumor cells colored...

You do not currently have access to this content.