Fig. 1.

The metabolic flexibility of cancer cells highlighting the Warburg effect, where glucose is preferentially converted into lactate despite the presence of oxygen, is emphasized in the diagram. Such a metabolic shift allows for rapid tumor expansion by supplying energy and essential biosynthetic precursors. Key intermediates of the TCA cycle are detailed, including the conversion of pyruvate into acetyl-CoA and the role of citrate in lipid and cholesterol synthesis. Cancer cells exploit this flexibility, relying on either glycolysis or the TCA cycle for energy production and biosynthesis to sustain their rapid growth, as demonstrated in the figure. The figure was generated by using BioRender.com (“Stimulated metabolic activity”).