title: Pyruvate kinase M2 and cancer: an updated assessment.
abstract: Cancer cells are characterized by high glycolytic rates to support energy regeneration and anabolic metabolism, along with the expression of pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (PKM2). The latter catalyzes the last step of glycolysis and reprograms the glycolytic flux to feed the special metabolic demands of proliferating cells. Besides, PKM2 has moonlight functions, such as gene transcription, favoring cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests a critical role played by the low-activity-dimeric PKM2 in tumor progression, supported by the identification of mutations which result in the down-regulation of its activity and tumorigenesis in a nude mouse model. This review discusses PKM2 regulation and the benefits it confers to cancer cells. Further, conflicting views on PKM2's role in cancer, its therapeutic relevance and future directions in the field are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Applied Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Mohd Askandar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Applied Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Vibhor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Applied Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Prakasam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gopinath
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 100, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sybille
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazurek
authors.affiliation: National Centre of Applied Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India. Electronic address: bamezai@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rameshwar N K
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Bamezai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006019:Glycolysis; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D011770:Pyruvate Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011770:Pyruvate Kinase
keywords: Cancer metabolism; PKM2; Warburg effect