Warburg Effect

The Warburg Effect describes how cancer cells preferentially use a process called glycolysis to generate energy, even when oxygen is abundant. Unlike normal cells that mainly rely on oxygen-based energy production (mitochondria), cancer cells rapidly break down glucose into simpler molecules, producing energy quickly without fully utilizing oxygen. This metabolic shift supports their rapid growth and survival and leads to increased glucose consumption. The Warburg Effect is a hallmark of many cancers and is used in diagnostic imaging, such as PET scans, to detect tumors based on their high glucose uptake.