Question

A cell is considered cancerous when it acquires a mutation that makes it unable to regulate its cell cycle, and as a result divides more often than a normal, healthy cell. based on the increased energy demands of this condition, what would you expect to be true about glycolysis in cancer cells?

Answer 1

The correct answer is - The rate of glycolysis is higher in cancer cells than in normal healthy cells.

Emerging research shows that cancer cells may undergo metabolic changes that support increased cell growth and division.

The most striking changes of tumor cellular bioenergetics include elevation of glycolysis. Compared to normal cells, cancer cells prefer using glycolysis even in normoxic condition.

In normal cells, glycolysis is prioritized only when oxygen supply is limited. In contrast, cancer cells preferentially use glycolysis even in the abundance of oxygen. This is why tumor glycolysis is often called “aerobic glycolysis".