Abstract: A composition includes at least one of a modified glucal or galactal molecule. The molecules are useful for the treatment of cancer, particularly in a human patient, more particularly in a human patient exhibiting cell-specific increases in glucose uptake without a corresponding lactate production. The compounds are also useful for treating a human that has hypoxic cells expressing elevated levels of HIT activity, a plurality of cells displaying a lower amplitude of circadian oscillation or an increase in reactive oxygen species in mitochondria of the cells of the human.