CYCS and cancer: By binding to VDAC1, hexokinase acquires increased levels of mitochondria-bound hexokinase in cancer cells, which interferes with VDAC1 Bax or Bak interactions and prevents cytochrome c release, and may acquire direct access to the mitochondrial ATP pool for phosphorylation of glucose, subsequently protecting against mitochondria-induced cell death [45, 48].