3-bromo-2-oxopropionate-1-propyl-ester and Carcinoma

Tumor cells preferentially use anaerobic glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation to generate energy. Hexokinase II (HK-II) is necessary for anaerobic glycolysis and displays aberrant expression in malignant cells. The current study aimed to evaluate the role of HK-II in the survival and biological function of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Our study demonstrated that high expression of HK-II was associated with poor survival outcomes in NPC patients. When using 3-BrOP (an HK-II inhibitor) to repress glycolysis, cell proliferation and invasion were attenuated, accompanied by the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G1 stage. Furthermore, 3-BrOP synergized with cisplatin (DDP) to induce NPC cell death. Collectively, we provided that the aberrant expression of HK-II was associated with the malignant phenotype of NPC. A combined treatment modality that targets glycolysis with DDP holds promise for the treatment of NPC patients.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Apoptosis; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma; Cell Cycle; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Female; Hexokinase; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Brominated; Male; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Prognosis; Propionates; Signal Transduction; Survival Rate; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Young Adult