The short and sweet of T-cell therapy: Restraining glycolysis enhances the formation of immunological memory and antitumor immune responses

Upon antigenic stimulation, naïve CD8(+) T cells divert their bioenergetic metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. This drives CD8(+) T cells to differentiate into short-lived effectors, impairing the establishment of immunological memory. The pharmacological inhibition of glycolysis with 2-deoxyglucose enhances the generation of memory CD8(+) T cells and thus improves their immunotherapeutic potential against cancer.