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Liver cancer metabolism: a hexokinase from the stars

Nature Metabolism volume 4, pages 1225–1226 (2022)Cite this article

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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 4th leading cause of cancer mortality. Modulation of tumour metabolism may represent a novel therapeutic strategy. Hexokinase 1, secreted into extracellular vesicles by activated hepatic stellate cells, is shown to be taken up by tumour cells, where it accelerates glycolysis and HCC growth.

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Fig. 1: HK1 transfer from HSCs to HCC boost glycolysis and tumour growth.

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Acknowledgements

RFS is supported by NIH grants 5R01CA262424-02 and 1R01CA262424-01.

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  1. Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Aveline Filliol & Robert F. Schwabe

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  1. Aveline Filliol
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  2. Robert F. Schwabe
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Correspondence to Robert F. Schwabe.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Filliol, A., Schwabe, R.F. Liver cancer metabolism: a hexokinase from the stars. Nat Metab 4, 1225–1226 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00659-w

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