Question

Describe the Warburg effect in colon cancer or cancer in general

Answer 1

WARBURG EFFECT IN CANCER:

Cancer cells rearrange 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’.

Cancer cells exhibit drastically increased glucose uptake and glycolytic pathways. This leads to more intermediate glycolytic metabolites and increase in ATP levels from glycolysis. The intermediate metabolites act as precursors for anabolic pathways such as triacylglycerol synthesis pathways for denovo synthesis of nucleotides , lipids, aminoacids and pentose phosphate pathway.