Abstract: Given the unlimited proliferation and aerobic glycolysis in tumor cells, these cells require more glucose, glutamine, and other nutrients compared with normal cells. Tumor cells are often affected by insufficient nutrient supply. However, by sensing changes in the nutrient supply in tumor microenvironment and by regulating signal-transduction pathways, some specific proteins can help tumor cells in blocking the cell cycle, reprogramming metabolism, and regulating autophagy to progress and survive against nutri-ent stress. Exciting innovations have been made to elucidate the mechanisms relevant to this process. This review aims to highlight re -cent studies on the mechanisms of sensing the low nutrient supply in microenvironments, as well as the downstream effect factors in cancer cells.