2-DeoxyGlucose / Glycolysis Cancer Research Results

2DG, 2-DeoxyGlucose: Click to Expand ⟱
Features: Diagnostic agent used in PET, can determine glucose metabolism
2-Deoxyglucose (2-DG) is a glucose analog that enters cells via GLUT transporters and is phosphorylated by hexokinase to 2-DG-6-phosphate, but cannot proceed through glycolysis. This leads to glycolytic blockade, ATP depletion, ER stress, and metabolic stress signaling.
It has been studied as:
-A glycolysis inhibitor (Warburg-targeting strategy)
-A radiosensitizer
-A metabolic stress amplifier
-An adjunct to pro-oxidant therapies
-2-DG primarily inhibits hexokinase
-2-DG-6-phosphate accumulates and inhibits hexokinase and glycolytic flux.
-an inhibitor of the glycolysis enzyme hexokinase

Key Pathways: 1.Glycolysis Inhibition (blocking the glycolytic pathway.)
• blockade leads to energy deprivation—a mechanism of interest particularly in cancer cells that often depend on high glycolytic rates (the “Warburg effect”).
• 2DG is structurally similar to glucose and is taken up into cells via glucose transporters (GLUTs).
• “glycolytic blockade.” deprives the cell of ATP and glycolytic intermediates, crucial for biosynthetic functions in rapidly dividing cancer cells.

2.Impact on the Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP)
• The inhibition of glycolysis may indirectly affect the PPP and PPP is essential for reducing equivalents (NADPH), which are needed for cell survival and proliferation.
• Decreased flux through the PPP may reduce production of NADPH.(indirect)
– NADPH is essential for countering oxidative stress by regenerating reduced glutathione (GSH).
• Reduced NADPH levels can compromise the cell’s ability to neutralize ROS, contributing to oxidative damage.

3.Interference with N-linked Glycosylation
• 2DG can disrupt N-linked glycosylation by competing with mannose in glycoprotein synthesis.
• This disruption can lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and may trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR), contributing to cancer cell apoptosis or impaired growth.
• The process of ER stress itself is associated with increased ROS generation as cellular homeostatic mechanisms are overwhelmed.

4. Mitochondrial Dysfunction and ROS Generation
• While the primary action of 2DG is cytosolic (glycolysis), metabolic stress caused by energy deprivation indirectly affects mitochondrial function.
• Mitochondria may increase ROS production when the electron transport chain is perturbed due to altered cellular energy demands.
– Elevated ROS levels can damage mitochondrial DNA, proteins, and lipids.
• The resulting oxidative damage further impairs mitochondrial efficiency and may trigger intrinsic apoptotic pathways.

5. Cellular Redox Imbalance
• Inhibition of glycolysis and the subsequent reduction in PPP activity limit NADPH production, a key reducing agent.
• With decreased NADPH, the regeneration of antioxidants such as glutathione and thioredoxin is impaired.
– Accumulation of ROS leads to oxidative stress, damaging cellular components including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Oxidative stress may sensitize cancer cells to further apoptotic signaling cascades.

6. Activation of Stress and Apoptotic Signaling Pathways
• 2DG-mediated metabolic stress and ROS accumulation can activate several stress-related kinases and transcription factors, including:
– AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK): Activated by energy deprivation, AMPK may shift cellular metabolism and promote cell cycle arrest.
– c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK): Often activated by oxidative and ER stress, JNK can promote apoptotic signaling.
– p38 MAPK: Also is responsive to stress stimuli and can drive apoptosis or cell cycle changes.
• These stress responses can initiate apoptosis in cancer cells, particularly if homeostatic mechanisms for dealing with ROS are overwhelmed.

Understanding these detailed pathways helps explain why 2DG can preferentially affect cancer cells that rely heavily on glycolysis (the Warburg effect) while also illuminating how ROS and oxidative damage contribute to its overall antitumor efficacy.

Phase I trials have explored ~45–63 mg/kg/day oral dosing, but tolerability varies and metabolic effects are dose-dependent.

possible hypothetical concern of combination with Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is one of the main active ingredients of propolis

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer / Tumor Context Normal Tissue Context TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 Hexokinase inhibition / glycolysis blockade Glycolysis ↓; lactate ↓; ATP ↓ (reported) High-glucose–dependent tissues vulnerable at higher doses P, R Core metabolic choke-point 2-DG enters via GLUTs and is phosphorylated to 2-DG-6-P, which accumulates and inhibits glycolytic flux.
2 ATP depletion / energy crisis AMP/ATP ratio ↑; metabolic stress ↑ Systemic fatigue / hypoglycemia-like effects possible R Energetic collapse Highly glycolytic tumors may be particularly sensitive to ATP depletion.
3 AMPK activation → mTOR suppression AMPK ↑; mTOR ↓; proliferation ↓ Metabolic adaptation ↑ R, G Anti-growth signaling Energy stress activates AMPK, reducing anabolic signaling and biosynthesis.
4 Interference with N-linked glycosylation ER stress ↑; UPR ↑; CHOP ↑ (reported) Protein-folding stress possible R, G Proteotoxic stress 2-DG competes with mannose in glycoprotein synthesis, disrupting ER homeostasis.
5 Pentose Phosphate Pathway (indirect modulation) NADPH production ↓ (context-dependent) Redox buffering ↓ at higher stress levels R Redox vulnerability Reduced glycolytic flux may lower PPP-derived NADPH, impairing glutathione regeneration.
6 Mitochondrial ROS increase (secondary) ROS ↑ (reported); mitochondrial stress ↑ Oxidative stress ↑ at higher doses R Redox destabilization ROS increase is secondary to metabolic compensation and redox imbalance.
7 Stress kinase activation (JNK / p38) Stress MAPKs ↑; apoptosis signaling ↑ R, G Apoptotic signaling Energy and ER stress can activate stress-responsive kinases.
8 Autophagy activation Autophagy ↑ (adaptive or pro-death) G Stress adaptation Often initially protective under metabolic restriction.
9 Radiosensitization Radiation sensitivity ↑ (reported) G Combination leverage Energy stress may impair DNA repair capacity.
10 Safety / tolerability constraint Fatigue, nausea, hypoglycemia-like symptoms Translation constraint Clinical dosing limited by systemic metabolic effects.

Time-Scale Flag (TSF): P / R / G

  • P: 0–30 min (glycolytic blockade begins)
  • R: 30 min–3 hr (AMPK activation; ER stress; ROS rise)
  • G: >3 hr (autophagy, apoptosis, radiosensitization outcomes)


Glycolysis, Glycolysis: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP (energy) in the process. It is a fundamental process for cellular energy production and occurs in the cytoplasm of cells. In normal cells, glycolysis is tightly regulated and is followed by aerobic respiration in the presence of oxygen, which allows for the efficient production of ATP.
In cancer cells, however, glycolysis is often upregulated, even in the presence of oxygen. This phenomenon is known as the Warburg Mutations in oncogenes (like MYC) and tumor suppressor genes (like TP53) can alter metabolic pathways, promoting glycolysis and other anabolic processes that support cell growth.effect.
Acidosis: The increased production of lactate from glycolysis can lead to an acidic microenvironment, which may promote tumor invasion and suppress immune responses.

Glycolysis is a hallmark of malignancy transformation in solid tumor, and LDH is the key enzyme involved in glycolysis.

Pathways:
-GLUTs, HK2, PFK, PK, PKM2, LDH, LDHA, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, AMPK, HIF-1a, c-MYC, p53, SIRT6, HSP90α, GAPDH, HBT, PPP, Lactate Metabolism, ALDO

Natural products targeting glycolytic signaling pathways https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9631946/
Alkaloids:
-Berberine, Worenine, Sinomenine, NK007, Tetrandrine, N-methylhermeanthidine chloride, Dauricine, Oxymatrine, Matrine, Cryptolepine

Flavonoids: -Oroxyline A, Apigenin, Kaempferol, Quercetin, Wogonin, Baicalein, Chrysin, Genistein, Cardamonin, Phloretin, Morusin, Bavachinin, 4-O-methylalpinumisofavone, Glabridin, Icaritin, LicA, Naringin, IVT, Proanthocyanidin B2, Scutellarin, Hesperidin, Silibinin, Catechin, EGCG, EGC, Xanthohumol.

Non-flavonoid phenolic compounds:
Curcumin, Resveratrol, Gossypol, Tannic acid.

Terpenoids:
-Cantharidin, Dihydroartemisinin, Oleanolic acid, Jolkinolide B, Cynaropicrin, Ursolic Acid, Triptolie, Oridonin, Micheliolide, Betulinic Acid, Beta-escin, Limonin, Bruceine D, Prosapogenin A (PSA), Oleuropein, Dioscin.

Quinones:
-Thymoquinone, Lapachoi, Tan IIA, Emodine, Rhein, Shikonin, Hypericin

Others:
-Perillyl alcohol, HCA, Melatonin, Sulforaphane, Vitamin D3, Mycoepoxydiene, Methyl jasmonate, CK, Phsyciosporin, Gliotoxin, Graviola, Ginsenoside, Beta-Carotene.


Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2325- 2DG,    Research Progress of Warburg Effect in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- Review, Var, NA
HK2↓, Glycolysis↓, PKM2↓, LDHA↓, TumCD↑, ChemoSen↑, eff↑,
2327- 2DG,    2-Deoxy-d-Glucose and Its Analogs: From Diagnostic to Therapeutic Agents
- Review, Var, NA
Glycolysis↓, HK2↓, mt-ROS↑, AMPK↑, PPP↓, NADPH↓, GSH↓, Bax:Bcl2↑, Apoptosis↑, RadioS↑, eff↓, Half-Life↓, other↝, eff↓,
2424- 2DG,  SRF,    The combination of the glycolysis inhibitor 2-DG and sorafenib can be effective against sorafenib-tolerant persister cancer cells
- in-vitro, HCC, Hep3B - in-vitro, HCC, HUH7
ChemoSen↓, Glycolysis↓, HK1↓, HK2↓, ATP↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 3 of 3

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

GSH↓, 1,   HK1↓, 1,   mt-ROS↑, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics

ATP↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis

AMPK↑, 1,   Glycolysis↓, 3,   HK2↓, 3,   LDHA↓, 1,   NADPH↓, 1,   PKM2↓, 1,   PPP↓, 1,  

Cell Death

Apoptosis↑, 1,   Bax:Bcl2↑, 1,   TumCD↑, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics

other↝, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance

ChemoSen↓, 1,   ChemoSen↑, 1,   eff↓, 2,   eff↑, 1,   Half-Life↓, 1,   RadioS↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 21

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: Glycolysis, Glycolysis
3 2-DeoxyGlucose
1 Sorafenib (brand name Nexavar)
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:19  Target#:129  State#:%  Dir#:1
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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