Review
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World J Transl Med. Aug 12, 2014; 3(2): 37-57
Published online Aug 12, 2014. doi: 10.5528/wjtm.v3.i2.37
Inhibitors of glucose transport and glycolysis as novel anticancer therapeutics
Yanrong Qian, Xuan Wang, Xiaozhuo Chen
Yanrong Qian, Xiaozhuo Chen, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Edison Biotechnology Institute, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Athens, OH 45701, United States
Xuan Wang, Xiaozhuo Chen, Department of Biological Sciences, Edison Biotechnology Institute, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Athens, OH 45701, United States
Xiaozhuo Chen, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Edison Biotechnology Institute, 109 Konneker Research Laboratories, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, United States
Author contributions: Qian Y screened glucose transport inhibitory compounds and wrote sections for glycolysis, glycolysis inhibitors and glucose transporters of the manuscript; Wang X assisted in compound screening and wrote the section of glucose transporter inhibitors of the manuscript; Chen X supervised compound screening and wrote summary, introduction, the Warburg effect, and future direction of the manuscript and finalized the manuscript.
Supported by Research Awards to Chen X from Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine of Ohio University; by the Edison Program of State of Ohio; and by Student Enhancement Award, Graduate Student Senate Original Work Grant, the Donald Clippinger Graduate Fellowship to Qian Y from Ohio University
Correspondence to: Xiaozhuo Chen, PhD, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Edison Biotechnology Institute, 109 Konneker Research Laboratories, Ohio University, The Ridges, 172 Watertower Drive, Athens, OH 45701, United States. chenx@ohio.edu
Telephone: +1-740-5939699 Fax: +1-740-5934795
Received: January 29, 2014
Revised: March 25, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: August 12, 2014
Processing time: 211 Days and 5.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Reprogramming of metabolism has been recognized at the beginning of 21st century as an emerging hallmark of cancer. The Warburg effect is one of the major focuses in the reprogramming. We cannot fully understand or more effectively treat cancer without a better understanding of cancer metabolism. Targeting cancer metabolism, particularly glucose transport and glycolysis, has been shown to be effective in inhibiting cancer growth. This review summarizes recent progresses in developments of therapeutics inhibiting glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes, provides key information associated with each inhibitor, discusses their promises and problems as well as future challenges and directions of the basic and translational research of the field.