Cancer cells rely heavily on glycolysis for energy production, even in the presence of oxygen, a phenomenon known as aerobic glycolysis. 2-DG is taken up by cancer cells due to its structural similarity to glucose. Once inside the cell, it is phosphorylated by hexokinase to 2-DG-6-phosphate, which cannot proceed further through glycolysis. This leads to the inhibition of glycolytic ATP production, causing energy stress and potentially leading to cell death. Additionally, 2-DG disrupts the pentose phosphate pathway, leading to a reduction in the synthesis of nucleotides and NADPH, further stressing the cancer cells.
