Glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose suppresses carcinogen-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis by restricting cancer cell metabolism.
The abnormal metabolism of cancer cells is a crucial feature of tumors and provides promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatments. Aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells, termed the Warburg effect, is a highlighted characteristic of cancer‑specific metabolism. However, the effect of glycolysis inhibition on hepatocarcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the effects of the glycolysis inhibitor 2‑deoxy‑D‑glucose (2‑DG) on the N‑diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‑induced rat hepatocarcinoma model and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. It was observed that 2‑DG significantly delayed hepatocarcinogenesis and effectively prolonged survival time in the DEN‑treated rats. The glycolysis inhibitor, 2‑DG prominently decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis in the DEN‑induced rat hepatoma and had no evident impact on the pericarcinomatous liver tissues. Further investigation revealed that 2‑DG resulted in a reduction of glycolysis products, the compensatory increase of hexokinase 2 expression and a decrease in 6‑phosphofructo‑2‑kinase, pyruvate kinase M2 and lactate dehydrogenase A expression in the hepatoma tissues. The inhibition of glycolysis further suppressed the tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis and ATP production, while it promoted autophagic activation. In addition, the in vitro study demonstrated that hypoxia, an important factor in the tumor microenvironment, may assist in increasing 2‑DG‑induced inhibition of cell viability, cell cycle retardation and the decrease of colony formation ability in hepatoma cells. Taken together, the present results suggested that 2‑DG may inhibit hepatocarcinogenesis in the DEN‑treated rats via restricting cancer cell metabolism. This finding provides a promising measure in the prevention and treatment of hepatoma.
Department of General Surgery, Weihai Second Municipal Hospital, Weihai Women and Children's Hospital, Weihai Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Weihai, Shandong 264200, P.R. China.
Zhaofa
Z
Wang
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Weihaiwei People's Hospital, Weihai, Shandong 264000, P.R. China.
Liming
L
Zhang
Department of General Surgery, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
Dong
D
Zhang
Department of General Surgery, Weihai Second Municipal Hospital, Weihai Women and Children's Hospital, Weihai Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Weihai, Shandong 264200, P.R. China.
Rongsheng
R
Sun
Department of General Surgery, Weihai Second Municipal Hospital, Weihai Women and Children's Hospital, Weihai Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Weihai, Shandong 264200, P.R. China.
Qingyan
Q
Wang
Department of General Surgery, Weihai Second Municipal Hospital, Weihai Women and Children's Hospital, Weihai Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Weihai, Shandong 264200, P.R. China.
Xinyi
X
Liu
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
D002273:Carcinogens; D003847:Deoxyglucose