Metabolic Reprogramming, Questioning, and Implications for Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The right terminology to describe biological phenomena is important. An inapropriate use can create some bias in the understanding that are not without consequences. In this communication we focus on the use of the term “reprogramming” associated to cancer cell metabolism. ABSTRACT: The expression “metabolic reprogramming” has been encountered more and more in the literature since the mid-1990s. It seems to encompass several notions depending on the author, but the lack of a clear definition allows it to be used as a “catch-all” expression. Our first intention is to point out the inconsistencies in the use of the reprogramming terminology for cancer metabolism. The second is to address the over-focus of the role of mutations in metabolic adaptation. With the increased interest in metabolism and, more specifically, in the Warburg effect in cancer research, it seems appropriate to discuss this terminology and related concepts in detail.