Review of aerobic glycolysis and its key enzymes - new targets for lung cancer therapy.
Most tumor cells show different metabolic pathways than normal cells. Even under the conditions of sufficient oxygen, they produce energy by a high rate of glycolysis followed by lactic acid fermentation in the cytosol, which is known as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with one of the highest incidence and mortality rates in the world at present. However, the exact mechanisms underlying lung cancer development remain unclear. The three key enzymes of glycolysis are hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase. Lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes the transfer of pyruvate to lactate. All four enzymes have been reported to be overexpressed in tumors, including lung cancer, and can be regulated by many oncoproteins to promote tumor proliferation, migration, and metastasis with dependence or independence of glycolysis. The discovery of aerobic glycolysis in the 1920s has provided new means and potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer.
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Environment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Tianjin, China.
Xue-Bing
XB
Li
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Environment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Tianjin, China.
Jun-Dong
JD
Gu
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Environment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Tianjin, China ; Sichuan Lung Cancer Institute, Sichuan Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu, China.
Qing-Hua
QH
Zhou
Aerobic glycolysis; key enzymes; lung cancer; therapeutic target