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Abstract
Cancer cells rewire their metabolism to promote growth, survival, proliferation, and
long-term maintenance. The common feature of this altered metabolism is the increased
glucose uptake and fermentation of glucose to lactate. This phenomenon is observed
even in the presence of completely functioning mitochondria and, together, is known
as the 'Warburg Effect'. The Warburg Effect has been documented for over 90 years
and extensively studied over the past 10 years, with thousands of papers reporting
to have established either its causes or its functions. Despite this intense interest,
the function of the Warburg Effect remains unclear. Here, we analyze several proposed
explanations for the function of Warburg Effect, emphasize their rationale, and discuss
their controversies.