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. 2012 Oct 1;2(4):197–202. doi: 10.4161/cl.22651

Table 1. Summary of recent findings supporting the pro-tumorigenic role of AMPK.

Cell lines/animal models Stress conditions (assays) Major findings supporting pro-tumorigenic role of AMPK References
Established model of glioblastoma development in the offspring of rats exposed prenatally to the mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)
Solid tumor formation in vivo (brain tumor model induced by carcinogen)
AMPK is strongly activated during early stage of tumorigenesis in vivo.
22
LKB1-null MEFs transformed by oncogene
Anchorage-independent growth (soft agar)
LKB1-null MEFs are resistant to oncogene-induced transformation.
23
AMPKα1α2-double knockout MEFs transformed by H-Rasv12
Solid tumor formation in vivo (xenograft)
AMPKα1α2-double knockout MEFs are severely impaired in their ability to form tumors in vivo.
24
AMPKα1α2 double knockout MEFs transformed by H-Rasv12
Matrix detachment (cell viability)
AMPK confers anoikis resistance in transformed cells
25
Pancreatic cancer cell lines
Glucose deprivation (cell viability), anchorage-independent growth (soft agar) and solid tumor formation (xenograft)
AMPK knockdown using siRNA sensitizes cell death during glucose deprivation and also impairs anchorage-independent growth and solid tumor formation.
26
Glioblastoma cell lines
Glucose deprivation (cell viability and spheroid migration)
AMPK signaling promotes cell survival and migration during glucose deprivation
27
Prostate cancer cell lines
Non-stress conditions (migration?)
CaMKK2 is increased by androgen and mediates androgen dependent regulation of cell migration through AMPK.
28
Prostate cancer cell lines
Non-stress conditions (cell proliferation and apoptosis)
Inhibition of AMPK by RNAi or compound C decreases cell proliferation and induces apoptosis.
29
Prostate cancer cell lines
Lipid deprivation (caspase activity and cell mass) and solid tumor formation (xenograft)
siRNA screening in prostate cancer cell lines under lipid deprivation identified AMPKβ1 subunit as an essential gene for survival.
30
Prostate cancer cell lines
Glucose deprivation (cell viability)
AMPK promotes prostate cancer cell survival during glucose deprivation.
31
Hepatocarcinoma cells isolated from mouse primary tumor induced by myc, Akt,p53−/−
Solid tumor formation (orthotopic transplantation into liver capsule)
Myc-driven tumorigenesis requires AMPK activity that promotes mitochondrial metabolism.
32
Pancreatic cancer cell line and glioblastoma cell line Matrix detachment (cell viability) and anchorage-independent growth (soft agar) KSR2 promotes metabolic activity, anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent growth via AMPK. 33