The Mitochondrial Metabolic Theory of Cancer was first described by German scientist Otto Warburg in 1923.
Acute damage to mitochondria (e.g., from arsenic) can kill cells. Dead cells cannot turn into cancer.
– Chronic low-grade mitochondrial damage however, allows cells to adapt, resorting to primitive methods of energy production.
Ancient Energy Production Revisited,
– Cells, 2.5 billion years ago (before mitochondria) relied on fermentation for energy.
– Cancer cells adopt this primitive energy production method under chronic damage as a survival strategy.
Substrates for Cancer Energy Production,
– Cancer cells use Glucose and Glutamine for fermentation.
– Glutamine, a crucial amino acid which is made in the body, plays roles in immune, gut, and urea cycle functions and is the most abundant amino acid in the body.
Fermentation by Cancer Cells,
– Glucose fermentation produces lactic acid.
– Glutamine fermentation produces succinate.
– Enhanced fermentation is the signature metabolic malady of all cancer cells (Prof Thomas Seyfried, Cancer as a Metabolic Disease)
pH Manipulation for Survival,
– These acids lower the microenvironment pH, preventing the body from recognizing cancer.
High Substrate Dependency,
– Cancer cells require massive substrate amounts for survival.
– Resulting in increased glucose receptors on cell walls. This is what is detected by PET scans.
Continue on this fascinating journey. Tune in next week for part 4!
