Targeting HK2 in Anticancer Therapy

Altered glucose metabolism is characteristic of many cancer cells, especially in the hypoxic zone of solid tumours, which is associated with a poor prognosis. Hexokinase (HK) is an enzyme involved in the first step of glycolysis, the phosphorylation of 6-OH in glucose molecules. Hexokinase 2 (HK2) is one of the isoforms overexpressed in cancer cells. In addition, HK2 binds to the voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) located on the outer mitochondrial membrane, protecting the cancer cell from apoptosis.