[Gefitinib inhibits glycolysis and induces programmed cell death in non-small cell lung cancer cells]

LGALS4 inhibits glycolysis and promotes apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via β‑catenin signaling

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Glycolysis serves a crucial role in the development of CRC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of lectin galactoside-binding soluble 4 (LGALS4) in the regulation of glycolysis and its therapeutic potential in CRC. In the present study, 175 overlapping differentially expressed genes were identified by comprehensive analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database and the GSE26571 CRC dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. LGALS4 was identified as the central gene by prognostic analysis using the mimetic map construction method and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. In vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of LGALS4 overexpression on CRC cell phenotype and aerobic glycolysis, as well as its relationship with β-catenin signaling. LGALS4 was significantly downregulated in CRC, with an average 3-fold decrease compared with LGALS4 expression levels in normal tissues. LGALS4 was also significantly associated with patient survival. LGALS4 overexpression inhibited CRC cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest and enhanced 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced apoptosis. Specifically, LGALS4 overexpression resulted in a ~50% decrease in cell proliferation and a ~2-fold increase in apoptosis. In addition, LGALS4 overexpression inhibited aerobic glycolysis and reduced glucose-dependent and glycolytic activity in CRC cells. The downregulatory effect of LGALS4 on glycolysis-related genes was further enhanced by the addition of the β-catenin inhibitor XAV-939. LGALS4 expression decreased CRC progression by inhibiting glycolysis and affecting β-catenin signaling. Overexpression of LGALS4 reduced the proliferation and glycolytic capacity of CRC cells and also enhanced their sensitivity to 5-FU. These results may potentially provide new perspectives for CRC treatment and targets for future clinical intervention strategies.

Tumor energy metabolism: implications for therapeutic targets

Tumor energy metabolism plays a crucial role in the occurrence, progression, and drug resistance of tumors. The study of tumor energy metabolism has gradually become an emerging field of tumor treatment. Recent studies have shown that epigenetic regulation is closely linked to tumor energy metabolism, influencing the metabolic remodeling and biological traits of tumor cells. This review focuses on the primary pathways of tumor energy metabolism and explores therapeutic strategies to target these pathways. It covers key areas such as glycolysis, the Warburg effect, mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, and the metabolic adaptability of tumors. Additionally, this article examines the role of the epigenetic regulator SWI/SNF complex in tumor metabolism, specifically its interactions with glucose, lipids, and amino acids. Summarizing therapeutic strategies aimed at these metabolic pathways, including inhibitors of glycolysis, mitochondrial-targeted drugs, exploitation of metabolic vulnerabilities, and recent developments related to SWI/SNF complexes as potential targets. The clinical significance, challenges, and future directions of tumor metabolism research are discussed, including strategies to overcome drug resistance, the potential of combination therapy, and the application of new technologies.

Targeting glycolysis in non-small cell lung cancer: Promises and challenges

Metabolic disturbance, particularly of glucose metabolism, is a hallmark of tumors such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Cancer cells tend to reprogram a majority of glucose metabolism reactions into glycolysis, even in oxygen-rich environments. Although glycolysis is not an efficient means of ATP production compared to oxidative phosphorylation, the inhibition of tumor glycolysis directly impedes cell survival and growth. This review focuses on research advances in glycolysis in NSCLC and systematically provides an overview of the key enzymes, biomarkers, non-coding RNAs, and signaling pathways that modulate the glycolysis process and, consequently, tumor growth and metastasis in NSCLC. Current medications, therapeutic approaches, and natural products that affect glycolysis in NSCLC are also summarized. We found that the identification of appropriate targets and biomarkers in glycolysis, specifically for NSCLC treatment, is still a challenge at present. However, LDHB, PDK1, MCT2, GLUT1, and PFKM might be promising targets in the treatment of NSCLC or its specific subtypes, and DPPA4, NQO1, GAPDH/MT-CO1, PGC-1α, OTUB2, ISLR, Barx2, OTUB2, and RFP180 might be prognostic predictors of NSCLC. In addition, natural products may serve as promising therapeutic approaches targeting multiple steps in glycolysis metabolism, since natural products always present multi-target properties. The development of metabolic intervention that targets glycolysis, alone or in combination with current therapy, is a potential therapeutic approach in NSCLC treatment. The aim of this review is to describe research patterns and interests concerning the metabolic treatment of NSCLC.

TSP50 promotes the Warburg effect and hepatocyte proliferation via regulating PKM2 acetylation

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of malignancy. Testes-specific protease 50 (TSP50), a newly identified oncogene, has been shown to play an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its role in tumor cell metabolism remains unclear. To investigate this issue, LC-MS/MS was employed to identify TSP50-binding proteins and pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), a known key enzyme of aerobic glycolysis, was identified as a novel binding partner of TSP50. Further studies suggested that TSP50 promoted aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells by maintaining low pyruvate kinase activity of the PKM2. Mechanistically, TSP50 promoted the Warburg effect by increasing PKM2 K433 acetylation level and PKM2 acetylation site (K433R) mutation remarkably abrogated the TSP50-induced aerobic glycolysis, cell proliferation in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. Our findings indicate that TSP50-mediated low PKM2 pyruvate kinase activity is an important determinant for Warburg effect in HCC cells and provide a mechanistic link between TSP50 and tumor metabolism.