Comprehensive Review of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose: Chemistry and Biology

Book Review

2-Deoxy-D-Glucose: Chemistry and Biology
Editors: Raman Singh, Antresh Kumar, and Kuldeep Singh
Bentham Science Publishers, Singapore, 2024
ISBN (Print): 978-981-5305-16-6, eISBN: 978-981-5305-15-9 252 pages

2-Deoxy-D-Glucose: Chemistry and Biology is a book by Bentham Science that examines the properties of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG), a glucose analog with potential therapeutic and biomedical applications. This comprehensive volume advances our understanding of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) through an integrated examination of its chemistry and biological applications. The editors have successfully assembled contributions that progress from fundamental characterization through therapeutic applications, with particular emphasis on emerging clinical relevance.

The work’s core thesis emerges from the relationship between 2-DG’s unique chemical structure – notably its hydrogen substitution for the hydroxyl group at C-2 – and its consequent biological effects. This structure-activity relationship underpins the molecule’s versatility across applications in cancer, viral infections, and neurological disorders.

The chemical characterization sections (Chapters 1-4) provide thorough analytical protocols, particularly noteworthy in the detailed spectroscopic data and HPLC methodologies. Chapter 3’s comprehensive examination of UV, IR, NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques establishes definitive standards for 2-DG analysis and quality control.

Particularly significant is the book’s treatment of 2-DG’s role in cancer metabolism. The authors present compelling evidence for its mechanism of action through glycolysis inhibition and the Warburg effect, supported by detailed examination of metabolic pathways and cellular responses. Chapters 8-10 offer especially valuable insights into [18F]FDG PET/CT applications in cancer diagnosis and surveillance.

The volume’s timeliness is evident in its extensive coverage of 2-DG’s antiviral applications, particularly regarding COVID-19 (Chapter 7). The authors present a thorough analysis of clinical trials and mechanistic studies, though they appropriately acknowledge the preliminary nature of some findings.

Target readership:

Primary:

• Medicinal chemists (analytical protocols, synthesis methods)
• Cancer researchers (metabolic targeting strategies)
• Drug development scientists (characterization techniques)

Secondary:

• Clinical researchers (therapeutic applications)
• Graduate students (comprehensive reference)
• Pharmaceutical analysts (quality control methods)

Areas meriting expansion in future editions include:

• Additional clinical trial data for emerging applications
• Computational modeling of drug-target interactions
• Expanded pharmacokinetic analyses

This volume represents a significant contribution to the field, particularly in its comprehensive integration of chemical and biological perspectives on 2-DG. Its thorough documentation of analytical methods and biological mechanisms establishes it as an authoritative reference for researchers and practitioners in medicinal chemistry and drug development.