Current Findings in Cancer Cell Metabolism

Abstract

Otto Warburg is a pioneer in the research and study of respiration. He made the observation that even in the presence of oxygen cancer cells metabolize significantly more lactic acid from glucose than a normal cell, called the Warburg effect (Koppenol et al. 2011). This discovery by Warburg was in the 1920s, since then new research and observations have been made on cancer cell metabolism. Current research shows other cellular components contribute to tumorigenesis. Understanding how cancer cells metabolize and what process actually led to tumorigenesis will allow for new treatment and cancer therapy. This micro review will focus on and discuss the new findings on cancer cell metabolism. The research discussed will demonstrate that the Warburg effect alone is not enough for cancer progression.