Enolase 1: A paradigm of metabolic enzyme moonlighting in tumorigenesis (Review)

Enolase 1 (ENO1) plays a pivotal role in tumor development, recognized as a multifunctional oncogene across diverse cancers. Initially known for its central role in glycolysis, where it catalyzes the conversion of 2‑phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate, the influence of ENO1 extends far beyond. Recent studies have unveiled its additional roles in promoting tumor progression through plasminogen receptor activity, nucleic acid binding activity and signaling functions. The function of ENO1 is intricately regulated by a wide array of post‑translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, methylation, succinylation and glycosylation. These modifications fine‑tune its enzymatic activity, stability and subcellular localization, thereby affecting tumor behavior. ENO1 holds significant diagnostic and prognostic value, with its expression levels closely linked to tumor malignancy and patient survival outcomes. In preclinical models, multiple therapeutic approaches targeting ENO1 have demonstrated tumor progression‑inhibiting effects. Consequently, drug development efforts centered on ENO1 are gaining momentum, with anticancer agents targeting this protein showing promising potential. As ENO1 emerges as a novel therapeutic target in oncology, the present review summarizes the latest research progress on ENO1 in the field of cancer.