Figure 2.

Anti-tumor pharmacological strategies. In cancer cells, the increased glycolytic flux causes a higher MGO production which can sustain tumor growth. Glo1 inhibitors block tumor progression by further increasing MGO intracellular levels and leading to dicarbonyl stress-induced cytotoxicity. Differently, MGO scavengers, by trapping MGO and reducing MGO-induced adducts formation, are able to block tumor progression preventing the cytotoxicity related to high MGO levels. MGO, methylglyoxal; Glo1, Glyoxalase 1; Glo2, Glyoxalase 2; F-1,6-bis-p, fructose-1,6-bis-phosphate; GA-3-P, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate; DHAP, dihydroxyacetone phosphate; HL cells, Human Leukemia cells.