Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, in conjunction with several research teams, have uncovered a surprising finding: a low-carbohydrate diet or the suppression of glucose metabolism, strategies often employed in anti-tumor approaches, may paradoxically elevate the risk of lung metastasis in liver cancer patients. The study highlights that cancer patients with diminished glucose metabolism levels are more likely to experience recurrence and lung metastasis following surgery. Mechanistically, the deprivation of glucose stimulates tumor cells to release exosomes containing TRAIL proteins, which alters the immune landscape of the lungs and facilitates tumor metastasis. Furthermore, the study suggests that exosomal TRAIL could serve as an effective biomarker for lung metastasis in liver cancer, while TIGIT emerges as a potential therapeutic target, holding significant promise for early cancer detection and treatment.