HK2 and neoplasm: The transcription factor RUNX family transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) promotes the expression of several glycolytic proteins (phosphorylated protein kinase B (PKB), hexokinase 2 (HK2), and PDH kinase 1(PDHK1)), inhibits the expression of PDHA1 and sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), and suppresses the rate of mitochondrial oxygen consumption (a marker of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation), thereby promoting tumor cell proliferation (21).