Review
Cancer metabolism: The Warburg effect today

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexmp.2010.08.006Get rights and content

Abstract

One of the first studies on the energy metabolism of a tumour was carried out, in 1922, in the laboratory of Otto Warburg. He established that cancer cells exhibited a specific metabolic pattern, characterized by a shift from respiration to fermentation, which has been later named the Warburg effect. Considerable work has been done since then, deepening our understanding of the process, with consequences for diagnosis and therapy. This review presents facts and perspectives on the Warburg effect for the 21st century.

Research highlights

► Warburg first established a tumour metabolic pattern in the 1920s. ► Tumours' increased glucose uptake has been studied since then. ► Cancer bioenergetics' study provides insights in all its hallmarks. ► New cancer diagnostic and therapeutic techniques focus on cancer metabolism.

Abbreviations

CL
cardiolipin
EGFR
endothelial growth factors receptor
ETC
electron transport chain
FDG
18Fluoro-deoxy-glucose
F2,6BP
fructose 2,6-bisphosphate
GLUT
glucose facilitative transporter
GSK3
glycogen synthase kinase 3
HIF-1
hypoxia inducible factor 1
HK
hexokinase
MCT
monocarboxylate transporter
NHE-1
Na+/H+ exchanger 1
ODD
“Oxygen Dependent Degradation”
OXPHOS
oxidative phosphorylation
PDH
pyruvate dehydrogenase
PET
positron emission tomography
PFKFB
6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase
PFK-1
6-phosphofructo-1-kinase
PPP
pentose phosphate pathway
ROS
reactive oxygen species
SCO2
“Synthesis of Cytochrome c Oxidase 2”
TIGAR
TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator
tPMET
trans-plasma membrane electron transporter
UCP2
mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2
VEGF
vascular endothelial growth factor
VHL
von Hippel-Lindau

Keywords

Cancer
Warburg effect
Metabolism
Microenvironment

Cited by (0)

View Abstract