There are several reasons why tumors prefer glycolysis: 1. Rapid ATP Production: Glycolysis produces ATP at a faster rate, which is advantageous for rapidly proliferating cancer cells. 2. Biosynthetic Needs: The intermediates of glycolysis can be diverted into various biosynthetic pathways to produce nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids required for cell growth. 3. Hypoxic Conditions: Tumors often exist in hypoxic environments where oxygen levels are low. Glycolysis does not require oxygen, making it an effective way to generate energy under these conditions.
