TKT and cancer: Moreover, to confirm the metabolic effects of pioglitazone we investigated key proteins indicative of altered glucose metabolism in cancer cells, such as the transporters Glut-1 and SLC15A (Solute-linked carrier family A1 member 5), G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and TKTL1 (Transketolase) (Fig. 7e).