Figure 9.

Role of glycolysis inhibitors combined with the photodynamic activity of Redaporfin in developing an efficient antitumor strategy proposed by Mendes and Arnaut [208]. 2-Deoxyglucose acts as an inhibitor of hexokinase and phosphoglucose isomerase, while 3-bromopiruvato is uptaken by cells through monocarboxylate transporters, which are overexpressed in tumor cells, targeting hexokinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase enzymes, both of which are decisive for the glycolytic pathway’s regulation. The energy imbalance due to the glycolysis blockade, mainly triggered by 3-bromopyruvate conjugated with the photosensitizer’s production of singlet oxygen, led to cell death.