The mRNA expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism and the biological role of aberrant glycolysis in AML cells. (A) Assay of the expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism in 5 AML cell lines, HL-60, U937, OCI-AML3, THP-1, and KG-1. Target gene expression in U937, OCI-AML3, THP-1, and KG-1 was normalized to those in HL-60 (which were set at 1) and presented as fold changes relative to HL-60. **P < .01 vs HL-60. (B-C) Cell viability curves of AML cell lines treated with glycolytic inhibitors 2-DG and DCA, respectively. (D) Western blot showed downregulation of HK1 in U937 and OCI-AML3 by shRNA. (E) Increased sensitivity to Ara-C in U937 and OCI-AML3 with reduced HK1 expression. *P < .05 vs shNT. (F-I) Synergistic effect of 2-DG and Ara-C on U937, OCI-AML3, HL-60, and KG-1, respectively. (J-K) Cell viability curves of AML primary blast cells treated with glycolytic inhibitors 2-DG and DCA, respectively. (L-N) Synergistic effect of 2-DG and Ara-C on AML primary blast cells of patient 1, patient 2, and patient 3, respectively. Each measure was performed with at least 3 duplicates and was expressed as mean ± SE.