Targeting glucose metabolism to develop anticancer treatments and therapeutic patents
Yan Zhou1, Yizhen Guo1, Kin Yip Tam1
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR, PR China.
Introduction:
One of the most distinctive hallmarks of cancer cells is increased glucose consumption for aerobic glycolysis, which is called the Warburg effect. In recent decades, extensive research has been carried out to exploit this famous phenomenon, trying to detect promising targetable vulnerabilities in altered metabolism to fight cancer. Targeting aberrant glucose metabolism can perturb cancer malignant proliferation and even induce programmed cell death.
Areas Covered:
This review covered the recent patents which focused on targeting key glycolytic enzymes, including hexokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases, and lactate dehydrogenase for cancer treatment.
Expert Opinion:
Compared with the conventional cancer treatment, specifically targeting the well-known Achilles heel, the Warburg effect has attracted considerable attention. Although there is still no single glycolytic agent for clinical cancer treatment, the combination of glycolytic inhibitor with conventional anticancer drugs or the combined use of multiple glycolytic inhibitors are being investigated extensively in recent years, which could emerge as attractive anticancer strategies.
Insights
Targeting the Warburg effect, a hallmark of cancer cells, offers new therapeutic strategies. Research explores inhibiting key glycolytic enzymes for cancer treatment, showing promise in combination therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Metabolism
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cancer cells exhibit increased glucose consumption via aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect.
- This metabolic alteration presents a potential vulnerability for cancer therapy.
- Targeting aberrant glucose metabolism can impede cancer growth and induce cell death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent patents on targeting key glycolytic enzymes for cancer treatment.
- To highlight the Warburg effect as a target for novel anticancer strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent patent literature.
- Focus on patents targeting hexokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases, and lactate dehydrogenase.
Main Results:
- Identification of patents targeting critical enzymes in the glycolytic pathway.
- Exploration of the Warburg effect as a therapeutic target.
Conclusions:
- Targeting the Warburg effect is a significant area of cancer research.
- While no single glycolytic inhibitor is approved, combination therapies (inhibitor + conventional drugs or multiple inhibitors) are under extensive investigation.
- These strategies show potential as future anticancer treatments.
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