We are excited to share that our colleague, Prof. Mateja Erdani Kreft, has co-authored a review paper titled "New Insights in ATP Synthesis as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer and Angiogenic Ocular Diseases." This comprehensive review, published in the Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, provides significant insights into the role of aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) in cancer and healthy cells.
The paper illustrates that the production of lactate and ATP by aerobic glycolysis is not unique to cancer cells but also occurs in healthy cells during tissue development or regeneration. Moreover, aerobic glycolysis is common in healthy, non-proliferating cells such as erythrocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and astrocytes. Both cancerous and non-cancerous proliferating cells require lactate for biosynthesis and tissue growth. Interestingly, non-proliferating cancer stem cells and leading tip endothelial cells rely on glycolysis to obtain pyruvate, which is used in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for ATP synthesis. This suggests that aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of proliferating cells rather than a cancer-specific trait, limiting its utility in cancer therapy. However, targeting glycolysis in angiogenic eye diseases could be a safe and effective treatment, as most eye cells utilize OXPHOS, sparing them from the effects of glycolysis inhibitors. For a more in-depth understanding, you can read the full review paper here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1369/00221554241249515
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