A comparative analysis of inhibitors of the glycolysis pathway in breast and ovarian cancer cell line models

// Chrysi Xintaropoulou 1 , Carol Ward 1 , Alan Wise 2 , Hugh Marston 2, 4 , Arran Turnbull 3 , Simon P. Langdon 1 1 Division of Pathology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK 2 IOMET Pharma, Nine, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX, UK 3 Breakthrough Breast Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK 4 Current Address: Eli Lilly Research and Development, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK Correspondence to: Simon P. Langdon, e-mail: Simon.Langdon@ed.ac.uk Keywords: glycolysis, inhibitors, ovarian cancer, breast cancer Received: May 12, 2015      Accepted: June 29, 2015      Published: July 16, 2015 ABSTRACT Many cancer cells rely on aerobic glycolysis for energy production and targeting of this pathway is a potential strategy to inhibit cancer cell growth. In this study, inhibition of five glycolysis pathway molecules (GLUT1, HKII, PFKFB3, PDHK1 and LDH) using 9 inhibitors (Phloretin, Quercetin, STF31, WZB117, 3PO, 3-bromopyruvate, Dichloroacetate, Oxamic acid, NHI-1) was investigated in panels of breast and ovarian cancer cell line models. All compounds tested blocked glycolysis as indicated by increased extracellular glucose and decreased lactate production and also increased apoptosis. Sensitivity to several inhibitors correlated with the proliferation rate of the cell lines. Seven compounds had IC 50 values that were associated with each other consistent with a shared mechanism of action. A synergistic interaction was revealed between STF31 and Oxamic acid when combined with the antidiabetic drug metformin. Sensitivity to glycolysis inhibition was also examined under a range of O 2 levels (21% O 2 , 7% O 2 , 2% O 2 and 0.5% O 2 ) and greater resistance to the inhibitors was found at low oxygen conditions (7% O 2 , 2% O 2 and 0.5% O 2 ) relative to 21% O 2 conditions. These results indicate growth of breast and ovarian cancer cell lines is dependent on all the targets examined in the glycolytic pathway with increased sensitivity to the inhibitors under normoxic conditions.