Work

PKM2 is the Metabolic Checkpoint for Stemness Features in Head and Neck Cancer

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: -knockdown CSCs revealed upregulation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Wnt signaling pathway. The present study concluded that decreased PKM2 is associated with aggressive clinicopathological features. PKM2 inhibition-promoted stemness may be mediated by increased nuclear β-catenin localization, which potentially contributes to tumorigenesis and disease progression in HNC. Our findings suggest that PKM2 modulates HNC stemness by linking metabolic rewiring with oncogenic signaling, highlighting its potential as a molecular target for adjuvant therapy in patients with HNC.

Source: Journal of Cancer

DOI: 10.7150/jca.132595

Authors: Wan-Hsuan Sun, Ta-Jung Peng, Hsueh-Jou Fang, Chia-Ling Chang, Yu-Wen Tang, Kuang-Hui Sun