Aldose reductase and cancer metabolism: The master regulator in the limelight

It is strongly established that metabolic reprogramming mediates the initiation, progression, and metastasis of a variety of cancers. However, there is no common biomarker identified to link the dysregulated metabolism and cancer progression. Recent studies strongly advise the involvement of aldose reductase (AR) in cancer metabolism. AR-mediated glucose metabolism creates a Warburg-like effect and an acidic tumour microenvironment in cancer cells. Moreover, AR overexpression is associated with the impairment of mitochondria and the accumulation of free fatty acids in cancer cells. Further, AR-mediated reduction of lipid aldehydes and chemotherapeutics are involved in the activation of factors promoting proliferation and chemo-resistance. In this review, we have delineated the possible mechanisms by which AR modulates cellular metabolism for cancer proliferation and survival. An in-depth understanding of cancer metabolism and the role of AR might lead to the use of AR inhibitors as metabolic modulating agents for the therapy of cancer.