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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells
Published on: November 21, 2018
Cancer metabolism: facts, fantasy, and fiction
1Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biochemical and Chemical Science, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. xl2000@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Abstract:
The concept of a glycolytic cancer cell was introduced by Warburg over 70 years ago. This perception has since become the rationale that drives a considerable proportion of basic research on cancer, and it influences the current strategies for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of cancer. Here we review the data from the last 40 years on this issue. We conclude that there is no evidence that cancer cells are inherently glycolytic, but that some tumours might indeed be glycolytic in vivo as a result of their hypoxic environment.
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