Glucose Metabolism in Cancer and Ischemia: Possible Therapeutic Consequences of the Warburg Effect.

Abstract

The Warburg effect states that the main source of energy for cancer cells is not aerobic respiration, but glycolysis-even in normoxia. The shift from one to the other is governed by mutually counteracting enzymes: pyruvate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK). Anaerobic metabolism of cancer cells promotes cell proliferation, local tissue immunosuppression, resistance to hypoxic conditions, and metastatic processes. By switching glucose back to oxidative metabolism, these effects might be reversed. This can be achieved using PDK inhibitors, such as dichloroacetate. Patients suffering from ischemic conditions might benefit from this effect. On the other hand, the β-blockers (adrenergic β-antagonists) often used in these patients appear to improve cancer-specific survival, and nonselective β-blockers have been shown to promote glucose oxidation. Might there be a link?

• Authors: Spela Salamon, Eva Podbregar, Peter Kubatka, Dietrich Büsselberg, Martin Caprnda, Radka Opatrilova, Vanda Valentova, Mariusz Adamek, Peter Kruzliak, Matej Podbregar
• Journal: Nutrition and cancer (Nutr Cancer) 2017 Feb-Mar Vol. 69 Issue 2 Pg. 177-183 ISSN: 1532-7914 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28094552 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Dichloroacetic Acid
• Glucose

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Dichloroacetic Acid (pharmacology)
• Glucose (metabolism)
• Glycolysis
• Humans
• Ischemia (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism)