The inhibition of aerobic glycolysis as a therapeutic approach to improve cancer chemotherapy

Vettraino, Marina Eleonora (2014) The inhibition of aerobic glycolysis as a therapeutic approach to improve cancer chemotherapy, [Dissertation thesis], Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna. Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze biomediche, 26 Ciclo. DOI 10.6092/unibo/amsdottorato/6195.
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Abstract

The aim of the research project discussed in this thesis was to study the inhibition of aerobic glycolysis, that is the metabolic pathway exploited by cancer cells for the ATP generation. This observation has led to the evaluation of glycolytic inhibitors as potential anticancer agents. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is the only enzyme whose inhibition should allow a blocking of aerobic glycolysis of tumor cells without damaging the normal cells which, in conditions of normal functional activity and sufficient oxygen supply, do not need this enzyme. In preliminar experiments we demonstrated that oxamic acid and tartronic acid, two LDH competitive inhibitors, impaired aerobic glycolysis and replication of cells from human hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, we proposed that the depletion of ATP levels in neoplastic cells, could improved the chemotherapeutic index of associated anticancer drugs; in particular, it was studied the association of oxamic acid and multi-targeted kinase inhibitors. A synergistic effect in combination with sorafenib was observed, and we demonstrated that this was related to the capacity of sorafenib to hinder the oxidative phosphorylation, so that cells were more dependent to aerobic glycolysis. These results linked to LDH blockage encouraged us to search for LDH inhibitors more powerful than oxamic acid; thus, in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Bologna University we identified a new molecule, galloflavin, able to inhibit both A and B isoforms of LDH enzyme. The effects of galloflavin were studied on different human cancer cell lines (hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, Burkitt’s lymphoma). Although exhibiting different power on the tested cell lines, galloflavin was constantly found to inhibit lactate and ATP production and to induce cell death, mainly in the form of apoptosis. Finally, as LDH-A is able to bind single stranded DNA, thus stimulating cell transcription, galloflavin effects were also studied on this other LDH function.

Abstract
Tipologia del documento
Tesi di dottorato
Autore
Vettraino, Marina Eleonora
Supervisore
Dottorato di ricerca
Scuola di dottorato
Scienze mediche e chirurgiche cliniche
Ciclo
26
Coordinatore
Settore disciplinare
Settore concorsuale
Parole chiave
cancer, aerobic glycolysis, Warburg,lactate dehydrogenase, LDH inhibitors
URN:NBN
DOI
10.6092/unibo/amsdottorato/6195
Data di discussione
23 Gennaio 2014
URI

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