Abstract 1182 Pentose Phosphate Pathway flux controls protein stability of HKDC1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) supports cancer growth by 1) generating anabolic intermediates for fatty acid (NADPH) and DNA (ribose-5-phosphate) synthesis and 2) antioxidant defense (NADPH), both critical for rapid cell proliferation. The PPP's flux is often upregulated in tumors, linking it closely to the Warburg effect, making it a key target for cancer therapy. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is often associated with chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B and C, metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, and cirrhosis.