Several theories have been proposed to explain why cancer cells favor glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation: 1. Rapid ATP Production: Glycolysis produces ATP at a faster rate than oxidative phosphorylation, which may be advantageous for rapidly proliferating cancer cells. 2. Biosynthetic Needs: The intermediates of glycolysis can be diverted into various biosynthetic pathways that are essential for cell growth and division. 3. Hypoxic Conditions: Tumor microenvironments often have regions of low oxygen (hypoxia), which can induce glycolysis through hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α). 4. Avoiding Apoptosis: Mitochondrial respiration is closely linked with apoptotic pathways. Relying on glycolysis might help cancer cells evade apoptosis.
