Inhibition of glycolytic activator PFKFB3 suppresses tumor growth and induces tumor vessel normalization in hepatocellular carcinoma

Glycolysis emerges as a new therapeutic target for malignancies. The inhibition of glycolytic activator, PFKFB3, repairs tumor endothelial cell function, and normalizing the microenvironment. We aimed to investigate significance PFKFB3 in HCC, effects inhibitor, PFK15, HCC cells cells. Double immunofluorescent staining CD31 tissues revealed that high expression both was significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis identified an independent prognostic factor. PFK15 suppressed proliferation line vitro. In subcutaneous model cells, growth induced apoptosis. Moreover, treatment vessel normalization, decreasing diameter pericyte attachment improving perfusion. High novel marker HCC. Targeting via might be promising strategy suppressing inducing normalization.