PKM and cancer: Although, previously a study had revealed that 3-MA attenuates the invasion of cancer cells, independently of autophagy inhibition, through inhibition of type I and II PI3Ks and probably other molecules26, meanwhile, 3-MA could further reduce the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, vimentin and enhance the epithelial marker E-cadherin which are mediated by the knockdown of PKM2 as has been confirmed in our study.