Overview The Warburg hypothesis states that neoplastic cells undergo unique changes in metabolism, favoring anaerobic glycolysis. This occurs in a hypoxic and acidotic microenvironment. Principle idea cancer cells generate energy via a unique mechanism aerobic glycolysis login to view 5 more bullets Metabolic changes transport of glucose into cells ↑↑ expression of GLUT1 login to view 1 more bullet ↑↑ expression of hexokinase 2 login to view 4 more bullets glycolysis ↑↑ expression of fetal pyruvate kinase login to view 1 more bullet ↑↑ shunting into pentose phosphate shunt login to view 1 more bullet fatty acid metabolism ↓↓ β-oxidation login to view 1 more bullet amino acid metabolism ↑↑ utilization of glutamine login to view 2 more bullets cell growth ↑↑ expression of Akt login to view 2 more bullets Clinical importance cancer therapy inhibitors of pyruvate kinase login to view 1 more bullet inhibitors of fetal pyruvate kinase login to view 2 more bullets