AMP-Activated Protein Kinase: Friend or Foe in Cancer?

The AMP -activated protein kinase OM PK) is activated by energy stress and restores homeostasis bv switching on catabolism, while switching oft cell growth and proliferation. Findings that AMPK acts downstream of the tumor suppressor LK B I have suggested that AM PK might.ilso suppress tumorig,enesis. In mouse models of B and T cell lymphoma in which genetic loss of AMPK occurred before tumor initiation, tumorigenesis was accelerated, confirming that AMPK has tumor-suppressor functions. however, when loss of AMPK in a T cell lymphoma model occurred after tumor initiation, or simultaneously with tumor initiation in a lung cancer model, the disease was ameliorated. Thus, once tumorigenesis has occurred, AMPK switches from tumor suppression to tumor promotion. Analysis of 'alterations in AAWK genes in htunan cancers suggests similar dichotomies, with sonic genes being frequently amplified while others are mutated. Overall, while AM PK-activating drugs might he effective in preventing cancer, in sonic cases AM PK inhibitors might be required to treat it.