The Pentose Phosphate Pathway and Cancer

Overview

Journal Trends Biochem Sci

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 2014 Jul 20

PMID 25037503

Citations 668

Authors

Krushna C Patra

Nissim Hay

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which branches from glycolysis at the first committed step of glucose metabolism, is required for the synthesis of ribonucleotides and is a major source of NADPH. NADPH is required for and consumed during fatty acid synthesis and the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, the PPP plays a pivotal role in helping glycolytic cancer cells to meet their anabolic demands and combat oxidative stress. Recently, several neoplastic lesions were shown to have evolved to facilitate the flux of glucose into the PPP. This review summarizes the fundamental functions of the PPP, its regulation in cancer cells, and its importance in cancer cell metabolism and survival.

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