A glucose antimetabolite and an inhibitor of glycolysis; metabolized into 6-DG6P, which cannot be metabolized by glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, leading to 2-DG6P accumulation, inhibition of glycolysis, and cell death; induces apoptosis in SK-BR-3 cells at 16 mM; inhibits the growth of 143B osteosarcoma cells cultured under hypoxic conditions at 2 mg/ml; reduces tumor growth in 143B osteosarcoma and MV522 non-small cell lung cancer mouse xenograft models when used alone or in combination with doxorubicin or paclitaxel at 500 mg/kg