title: Targeting AMPK in the treatment of malignancies.
abstract: The AMPK pathway is a metabolic stress-related and energy censor pathway which plays important regulatory roles in normal and malignant cells. This cellular cascade controls generation of signals for initiation of mRNA translation via the mTOR pathway and exhibits regulatory roles on the initiation of autophagy. AMPK activators have been shown to suppress mTOR activity and to negatively control malignant transformation and cell proliferation of diverse malignant cell types. Such properties of AMPK inducers have generated substantial interest for the use of AMPK targeting compounds as antineoplastic agents and have provoked extensive research efforts to better define and classify the mechanisms controlling AMPK activity and its functional consequences in malignant cells.
authors.affiliation: Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Medical School and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vakana
authors.forename: Jessica K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.forename: Leonidas C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Platanias
mesh_terms: D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008687:Metformin; D000263:Adenylate Kinase