2-Deoxy-D-glucose simultaneously targets glycolysis and Wnt/β-catenin signaling to inhibit cervical cancer progression

Natural products as glycolytic inhibitors for cervical cancer treatment: A comprehensive review

Cervical cancer, a prevalent gynaecological malignancy, presents challenges in late-stage treatment efficacy. Aerobic glycolysis, a prominent metabolic trait in cervical cancer, emerges as a promising target for novel drug discovery. Natural products, originating from traditional medicine, represent a significant therapeutic avenue and primary source for new drug development. This review explores the regulatory mechanisms of glycolysis in cervical cancer and summarises natural compounds that inhibit aerobic glycolysis as a therapeutic strategy. The glycolytic phenotype in cervical cancer is regulated by classical molecules such as HIF-1, HPV virulence factors and specificity protein 1, which facilitate the Warburg effect in cervical cancer. Various natural products, such as artemisinin, shikonin and kaempferol, exert inhibitory effects by downregulating key glycolytic enzymes through signalling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α and JAK2/STAT3. Despite challenges related to drug metabolism and toxicity, these natural compounds provide novel insights and promising avenues for cervical cancer treatment.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes aerobic glycolysis and progression of cervical cancer through WNT/β-catenin/PDK1 axis

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers. Accumulated evidence shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in cervical cancer occurrence and progression, but their specific functions and mechanisms remain to be further explored.

METHODS

The RT-qPCR assay was used to detect the expression of NEAT1 in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, western blotting, and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the impact of NEAT1 on the malignant behavior of cervical cancer cells. Glucose consumption, lactate production, ATP levels, ROS levels, MMP levels, and the mRNA expressions of glycolysis-related genes and tricarboxylic acid cycle-related genes were detected to analyze the effect of NEAT1 on metabolism reprograming in cervical cancer cells. The expressions of PDK1, β-catenin and downstream molecules of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway in cervical cancer cells and tissues were detected by western blotting, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays.

RESULTS

This study investigated the role and possible molecular mechanism of lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) in cervical cancer. Our results showed that NEAT1 was highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Downregulation of NEAT1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis of cervical cancer cells, while overexpression of NEAT1 led to the opposite effects. Mechanistically, NEAT1 upregulated pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK1) through the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, which enhanced glycolysis and then facilitated cervical cancer metastasis. Furthermore, NEAT1 maintained the protein stability of β-catenin but did not affect its mRNA level. We also excluded the direct binding of NEAT1 to the β-catenin protein via RNA pull-down assay. The suppressive impact of NEAT1 knockdown on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration was rescued by β-catenin overexpression. The WNT inhibitor iCRT3 attenuated the carcinogenic effect induced by NEAT1 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

In summary, these findings indicated that NEAT1 may contribute to the progression of cervical cancer by activating the WNT/β-catenin/PDK1 signaling axis.

CLSPN actives Wnt/β-catenin signaling to facilitate glycolysis and cell proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the influence and underlying mechanisms of CLSPN on OSCC.

METHODS

CLSPN expression was tested using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Flow cytometry, cell counting kit, and colony formation assays were performed to determine OSCC cell apoptosis, viability, and proliferation, respectively. In OSCC cells, the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), oxygen consumption rate (OCR), glucose uptake, and lactate production were determined using the corresponding kits. Changes in the protein levels of HK2, PKM2, LDHA, Wnt3a, and β-catenin were assessed using western blotting.

RESULTS

CLSPN expression was increased in OSCC tissues. Overexpression of CLSPN in HSC-2 cells promoted cell proliferation, increased the levels of ECAR, glucose uptake, and lactate production, and increased the protein levels of HK2, PKM2, LDHA, Wnt3a, and β-catenin, but inhibited OCR levels and apoptosis. The knockdown of CLSPN in CAL27 cells resulted in the opposite results. Moreover, the effects of CLSPN overexpression on glycolysis and OSCC cell proliferation were reversed by Wnt3a knockdown. In vivo, knockdown of CLSPN restrained tumor growth, glycolysis, and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

CONCLUSION

CLSPN promoted glycolysis and OSCC cell proliferation, and reduced apoptosis, which was achieved by the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.