Cancer cells often exhibit altered metabolism, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Unlike normal cells that rely on oxidative phosphorylation for energy production, cancer cells preferentially use glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen. This metabolic reprogramming is driven by the need to support rapid cell proliferation and survival. The TCA cycle in cancer cells is thus modified to cater to these needs, often showing increased flux through certain pathways to generate biosynthetic precursors.
