Targeting glucose metabolism in cancer: a new class of agents for loco-regional and systemic therapy of liver cancer and beyond?

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In patients with unresectable disease, loco-regional catheter-based intra-arterial therapies (IAT) can achieve selective tumor control while minimizing systemic toxicity. As molecular features of tumor growth and microenvironment are better understood, new targets arise for selective anticancer therapy. Particularly, antiglycolytic drugs that exploit the hyperglycolytic cancer cell metabolism – also known as the ‘Warburg effect’ – have emerged as promising therapeutic options. Thus, future developments will combine the selective character of loco-regional drug delivery platforms with highly specific molecular targeted antiglycolytic agents. This review will exemplify literature on antiglycolytic approaches and particularly focus on intra-arterial delivery methods.

View correction statement:

Erratum

Financial & competing interests disclosure

JF Geschwind reports grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH/NCI R01 CA160771, P30 CA0069730) and Philips Medical, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Consultant to Nordion, personal fees from Consultant to Biocompatibles/BTG, personal fees from Consultant to Bayer HealthCare, grants from DOD, grants from Biocompatibles/BTG, grants from Bayer HealthCare, grants from Nordion, grants from Context Vision, grants from SIR, grants from RSNA, grants from Guerbet, outside the submitted work. JF Geschwind is the founder and CEO of Prescience Labs, LLC. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

JF Geschwind reports grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH/NCI R01 CA160771, P30 CA0069730) and Philips Medical, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Consultant to Nordion, personal fees from Consultant to Biocompatibles/BTG, personal fees from Consultant to Bayer HealthCare, grants from DOD, grants from Biocompatibles/BTG, grants from Bayer HealthCare, grants from Nordion, grants from Context Vision, grants from SIR, grants from RSNA, grants from Guerbet, outside the submitted work. JF Geschwind is the founder and CEO of Prescience Labs, LLC. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.