Pachymic acid disrupting cancer metabolism.

Unlocking Energy: How Pachymic Acid Could Be The Key To Cancer Metabolism

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research spotlights pachymic acid's dual-action approach to disrupting cancer's energy supply, offering a beacon of hope in the fight against tumors."

Cancer cells, much like elite athletes, require a constant and abundant supply of energy to fuel their rapid growth and division. This dependence on energy metabolism presents a unique vulnerability that researchers are actively exploring. Imagine if we could pull the plug on cancer's power source? New research is shedding light on how a natural compound called pachymic acid might do just that.

Pachymic acid, derived from the medicinal mushroom Poria cocos, has a long history of use in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. However, recent studies suggest its potential extends far beyond these traditional applications, particularly in the realm of cancer treatment. The focus? How pachymic acid interferes with the specific metabolic pathways that cancer cells rely on to survive.

This article dives into the groundbreaking research that uncovers pachymic acid's ability to target two key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism: pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and hexokinase II (HK2). By understanding how pachymic acid disrupts these energy pathways, we can gain valuable insights into novel strategies for combating cancer.

Pachymic Acid: A Double Agent Against Cancer Metabolism?

Pachymic acid disrupting cancer metabolism.

The study identifies PKM2 and HK2 as key targets of pachymic acid. Here's the breakdown:

The study used a technique called Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) to identify proteins that interact with pachymic acid. Think of it like a molecular "find and seek," where researchers discovered that pachymic acid strongly binds to PKM2 and HK2.

PKM2 Activation & Disruption: Pachymic acid initially acts as an activator of PKM2, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the final step of glycolysis (the process by which glucose is broken down for energy). However, this activation is followed by a disruption of the normal glycolytic process.
HK2 Inhibition: Simultaneously, pachymic acid inhibits HK2, another critical enzyme involved in the first step of glycolysis. By blocking HK2, pachymic acid prevents cancer cells from efficiently taking up and using glucose.
The Result? Cancer cells experience a significant energy deficit.

By targeting these two key enzymes, pachymic acid effectively throws a wrench into cancer's energy production line. This dual action leads to a decrease in glucose uptake and lactate production, essentially starving the cancer cells of the fuel they need to thrive.

The Ripple Effect: Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Apoptosis

The impact of pachymic acid extends beyond simply cutting off the energy supply. The researchers found that it also induces mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to a cascade of events that ultimately trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells.

Specifically, pachymic acid causes HK2 to detach from the mitochondria, the cell's powerhouses. This detachment disrupts the normal function of the mitochondria, leading to:

Ultimately, these combined effects create an environment that is unsustainable for cancer cells, leading to their self-destruction. This research highlights the potential of pachymic acid as a promising agent in the fight against cancer, warranting further investigation and clinical trials.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1248/bpb.b18-00730, Alternate LINK

Title: Targeting Pyruvate Kinase M2 And Hexokinase Ii, Pachymic Acid Impairs Glucose Metabolism And Induces Mitochondrial Apoptosis

Subject: Pharmaceutical Science

Journal: Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin

Publisher: Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Authors: Guopeng Miao, Juan Han, Jifeng Zhang, Yihai Wu, Guanhe Tong

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is pachymic acid and how might it help with cancer?

Pachymic acid, a compound derived from the medicinal mushroom Poria cocos, is being researched for its potential in disrupting the energy supply of cancer cells. It works by targeting specific metabolic pathways that cancer cells rely on to survive. It has shown the ability to target two key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism: pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and hexokinase II (HK2).

How does pachymic acid actually cut off the energy supply to cancer cells?

Pachymic acid uses a dual-action approach. First, it initially acts as an activator of PKM2, an enzyme involved in the final step of glycolysis. However, this activation is followed by a disruption of the normal glycolytic process. Simultaneously, it inhibits HK2, another crucial enzyme involved in the first step of glycolysis, preventing cancer cells from efficiently taking up and using glucose. This combined action leads to an energy deficit in cancer cells.

What is the DARTS technique and how was it used in this study?

The DARTS technique, or Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability, is a molecular "find and seek" method used to identify proteins that interact with specific compounds. In this case, DARTS was used to discover that pachymic acid strongly binds to PKM2 and HK2, revealing these enzymes as key targets of the compound's activity.

Besides cutting off energy, what other effects does pachymic acid have on cancer cells?

Beyond reducing energy supply to cancer cells by targeting PKM2 and HK2, pachymic acid also induces mitochondrial dysfunction. This leads to a cascade of events that ultimately trigger apoptosis, which is programmed cell death, in cancer cells. This ripple effect demonstrates that pachymic acid has multi-faceted benefits.

What other cancer metabolism topics weren't discussed and how do they relate to pachymic acid?

While the study highlights the impact of pachymic acid on glucose metabolism through PKM2 and HK2, and its effects on mitochondrial function and apoptosis, it does not explicitly discuss the effects of pachymic acid on other critical metabolic pathways like the pentose phosphate pathway or glutaminolysis, which are also important for cancer cell survival. Further research exploring these interactions would give a more complete picture of pachymic acid's potential as an anti-cancer agent and how it compares to traditional approaches.