Glucose Metabolism in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Under normal conditions, non-transformed cells rely on glycolysis followed by oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATPs. When oxygen is scarce or when cells are actively proliferating, cellular ATPs come mainly from glycolysis. Pyruvate is converted into lactate to allow glycolysis to continue. Interestingly, cancer cells have adapted to favor lactate production even at normal oxygen tensions, exhibiting a metabolic shift known as the Warburg effect. However, the metabolic state of other cellular constituents within the tumor remains mostly unknown.