The Warburg effect: how does it benefit cancer cells?

MV Liberti, JW Locasale - Trends in biochemical sciences, 2016 - cell.com
Trends in biochemical sciences, 2016cell.com
Cancer cells rewire their metabolism to promote growth, survival, proliferation, and long-term
maintenance. The common feature of this altered metabolism is the increased glucose
uptake and fermentation of glucose to lactate. This phenomenon is observed even in the
presence of completely functioning mitochondria and, together, is known as the 'Warburg
Effect'. The Warburg Effect has been documented for over 90 years and extensively studied
over the past 10 years, with thousands of papers reporting to have established either its …
Cancer cells rewire their metabolism to promote growth, survival, proliferation, and long-term maintenance. The common feature of this altered metabolism is the increased glucose uptake and fermentation of glucose to lactate. This phenomenon is observed even in the presence of completely functioning mitochondria and, together, is known as the ‘Warburg Effect'. The Warburg Effect has been documented for over 90 years and extensively studied over the past 10 years, with thousands of papers reporting to have established either its causes or its functions. Despite this intense interest, the function of the Warburg Effect remains unclear. Here, we analyze several proposed explanations for the function of Warburg Effect, emphasize their rationale, and discuss their controversies.
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