Glycolytic diversity drives immune complexity in cancer

The interaction between the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and the tumor determines whether immune evasion or antitumor immunity prevails. Metabolic reprogramming is increasingly recognized as a critical factor shaping the tumor immune response. Glucose metabolism regulates the intrinsic cellular states of both immune and tumor cells, while simultaneously shaping the surrounding microenvironment. The glycolytic diversity of immune and tumor cells drives the complexity of the TIME. In this Review, we explore how glucose metabolism remodels the TIME and how these metabolic alterations influence immune effector function and immune evasion. We also highlight the potential for integrating microenvironmental modulation as a promising therapeutic strategy in glucose-targeted cancer therapies.