R4.5g: Deregulation of Cellular Energetics

This is a new 'hallmark' described by Hanahan and Weinberg in 2011.

Normal cells produce energy from glucose through glycolysis to pyruvate which then enters the citric acid cycle within the mitochondria. Malignant cells upregulate glycolysis which forms an increased source of energy compared to normal aerobic cells.

The rationale for this increase is unknown as glycolysis is not as energy efficient. The reduced efficiency is compensated for by upregulation of GLUT1 which increases glucose uptake in malignant cells.

Although the reason for this is unknown it can be utilised by FDG PET scanning to identify malignant cells.

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Links

• Old R04: Advanced Cell Biology
  • R4.1: Major Cell Cycle Regulators
  • R4.2: Signal Transduction
  • R4.3: Molecular Response to Ionising Radiation
  • R4.4: Tumour Kinetics
  • R4.5: Hallmarks of Cancer
    • R4.5a: Self Sufficiency In Growth Signals
    • R4.5b: Insensitivity To Growth Inhibition
    • R4.5c: Resisting Cell Death
    • R4.5d: Immortality
    • R4.5e: Angiogenesis
    • R4.5f: Invasion and Metastasis
    • R4.5g: Deregulation of Cellular Energetics
    • R4.5h: Immune Avoidance
    • R4.5i: Genomic Instability
    • R4.5j: Tumour Promoting Inflammation
  • R4.6: In Vitro Features Of Transformed Cells
  • R4.7: Mouse Models Of Tumour Initiation And Promotion