PDK1 and cancer: Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells is regulated by several oncogenic cues, such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), which has been implicated in regulating many of the genes responsible for the metabolic switch.4 HIF1α stimulates glycolytic energy production by activating genes involved in extracellular glucose import, such as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and hexokinase II (HKII).5 It downregulates oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria by transcriptional activation of genes such as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1).6