PKM2 affects the development of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth common malignant tumor worldwide and has the characteristics of insidious onset, high malignancy, invasive fast-growth, high recurrence and poor prognosis. Currently, besides the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), there are still no other markers for the accurate HCC diagnosis. Emerging evidence shows that pyruvate kinase isozyme splice variant 2 (PKM2) is highly expressed in various tumors, and is a master regulator of cancer cell metabolism. In the occurrence and development of HCC, PKM2 is involved in a variety of signal pathways, such as Hedgehog, STAT3, PI3K/AKT and EGFR. Whether PKM2 may serve as a target for HCC diagnosis and prognosis is still unclear. Herein, we reviewed the emerging evidence about the effect of PKM2 on the HCC, aiming to push forward clinical application of PKM2 in the early diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of HCC.