The Warburg effect

The Warburg effect describes how cancer cells tend to favor glycolysis, a process that breaks down sugar, even when oxygen is available and normal cells would use a more efficient method called oxidative phosphorylation. This shift allows cancer cells to quickly produce energy and building blocks for growth, supporting rapid proliferation. Although less efficient for energy production, this metabolic change helps tumors survive and grow faster. The Warburg effect highlights a key difference in how cancer cells manage energy, and understanding it can help in developing targeted treatments.