Inhibitors of pyruvate kinase as therapeutic agents for cancer

A method of inhibiting a breast cancer cell growth in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an inhibitor selected from the group consisting of:

• a compound of formula II:
• wherein,
• X and Y represent H, halide, or alkyl group;
• A is
• R and R′ represent H, alkyl, or aryl or heteroaryl ester;
• R″ represents H, or alkyl, or aryl or heteroaryl ester;
• any isomers or salts thereof;
• with the proviso that the compound of formula II is not
• wherein Ra═H, (Z)—F, (Z)—Cl, (E)-Cl and (Z)—CH3;