ROLE OF GLUCOSE TRANSPORT INHIBITORS IN CANCER TREATMENT

Abstract

Neoplastic cells exhibited altered metabolism, including accelerated glycolysis. As a result, these cells require a large supply of glucose, which is indicated by increased expression of various glucose transporters (GLUT). Thus, novel antineoplastic strategies focus on inhibiting GLUT in order to disrupt cancer cells’ glycolytic lifeline.Cancer cells requires more glucose molecules than normal cells. These cells' increased glucose uptake is caused by the overexpression of hypoxia-responsive glucose transporters, particularly GLUT1 and GLUT3, as well as other glucose transport proteins.GLUT inhibitors are small inhibitory molecules that can be natural or synthetic. Pan-GLUT inhibitors are necessary because neoplastic cells express multiple GLUT isoforms. Nonetheless, such pan-GLUT inhibitors must act at a low concentration to leave normal healthy cells unharmed and cause minimal injury to the body's other vital organs and systems. The purpose of this review is to present the possibilities for and how glucose transporters can be used in cancer therapy, as well as potential future outcomes.