Specific phenotype for glycolysis in malignant tumor cells and its significance

The most striking biochemical phenotype of malignant tumor cells is their elevated glycolysis.Even in the presence of available oxygen,such an enhancement of glycolysis becomes known as the Warburg effect.Based on Warburg effect,positron emission tomography(PET) is widely used in the clinical diagnosis of cancers.Importantly,the therapeutic strategies targeting tumor bioenergetics are being explored.Our review is focused on mechanism of elevated glycolysis in malignant tumor cells,and the role of Warburg effect in diagnosis cancer and target treatment.