– PDK1 is often upregulated in cancers and is central to the metabolic reprogramming (Warburg effect) that allows tumor cells to favor glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation.
– Elevated PDK1 expression has been correlated with aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognosis in several cancer types, including non‐small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and gastric cancer.
– Although PDK2 has a similar catalytic role as PDK1, its expression levels and impact may vary.
– Some studies have observed that increased PDK2 expression is associated with more aggressive cancer features and resistance to therapy in certain tumor types.
– PDK3 is often upregulated in response to hypoxic conditions—a common feature of solid tumors—which can further drive metabolic divergence in cancer cells.
– The role of PDK4 appears to be more variable. In some settings, its activity might be lower in tumor cells to favor the use of glycolysis, while in others, it may be upregulated as part of broader metabolic adaptations.
-By upregulating PDKs, cancer cells limit the flux of pyruvate into the mitochondria, thereby promoting glycolysis.
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