Published online Feb 14, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i6.2046
Peer-review started: June 25, 2015
First decision: July 10, 2015
Revised: September 18, 2015
Accepted: November 30, 2015
Article in press: November 30, 2015
Published online: February 14, 2016
Processing time: 216 Days and 21.3 Hours
Glucose metabolism in gastric cancer cells differs from that of normal epithelial cells. Upregulated aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) in gastric cancer meeting the demands of cell proliferation is associated with genetic mutations, epigenetic modification and proteomic alteration. Understanding the mechanisms of aerobic glycolysis may contribute to our knowledge of gastric carcinogenesis. Metabolomic studies offer novel, convenient and practical tools in the search for new biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and chemosensitivity prediction of gastric cancer. Interfering with the process of glycolysis in cancer cells may provide a new and promising therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer. In this article, we present a brief review of recent studies of glucose metabolism in gastric cancer, with primary focus on the clinical applications of new biomarkers and their potential therapeutic role in gastric cancer.
Core tip: Increased glucose consumption is a hallmark of cancer cells. Studies focusing on glucose metabolism provide a new perspective on gastric carcinogenesis and a novel approach to exploration of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer.