Enhanced radiosensitivity and chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells by 2-deoxy-d-glucose in combination therapy

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy, and it is also the major cause of cancer-related deaths of women worldwide. Breast cancer treatment involves surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or combination therapy, and novel strategies are needed to boost the oncologic outcome. The non-metabolizable glucose analogue, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) which inhibits glucose synthesis and adenosine triphosphate production, is one of the important discoveries involving the disturbances that can be caused to the process of the metabolism. The glucose analogue, 2-DG, is known as a tumor sensitizer to irradiation (IR) and chemotherapy, which help improve the treatment rates. It enhances the cytotoxicity via oxidative stress, which is more redundant in tumor cells than in normal ones. This article provides a brief summary on studies related to 2-DG chemo-/radio-sensitization effects by combination therapy of 2-DG/IR or 2-DG/doxorubicin.