Warburg hypothesis

The Warburg hypothesis is a hypothesis for carcinogenesis. It goes back to the Nobel laureate, biochemist and physician Otto Warburg ( 1883-1970 ).

In his observations on cancer cells, he turned unusually tight high lactate levels in this one, but lactic acid is a typical fermentation product.

Hypothesis

Warburg in 1924 developed from these observations a hypothesis for carcinogenesis. This means that cancer cells preferentially gain their necessary energy from anaerobic fermentation ( lactic acid fermentation) of glucose and therefore oxygen is necessary for cancer growth does not necessarily. A disorder of the function of the mitochondria of cancer cells is the main reason for the occurrence of cancer. Cancer cells would mainly ferment glucose and not burn.

For a possible growth tumor cells need energy. The rate of growth is dependent on the metabolism of these cells and an optimal environment for growth. Cells of animals get their energy both in the mitochondria by the oxidative degradation of glucose, on the other hand by lactic acid fermentation, when glucose is fermented in the absence of oxygen.

The Warburg hypothesis could be up to 2006 neither proved nor disproved. In it, some alternative medical method for the treatment of cancer, such as the so-called " cell symbiosis therapy " by Heinrich Kremer or dietary recommendations, such as the Budwig Diet by Johanna Budwig appointed. 2006, a work Jena scientists was published that supports the Warburg hypothesis. In their work, the researchers were able to show in a form of colon cancer in experimental animals that forced of aiming for the aerobic combustion of glucose inhibits cancer growth. They continued to a protein frataxin, which they einschleusten with the help of genetic engineering in mitochondria. In a second experiment, they promoted the anaerobic fermentation of glucose and vice versa provide an increased tumor growth determined. Similar results could show a Mannheimer group.

The Warburg effect could be the starting point for future glykolysehemmende drugs for the treatment of cancer. It could be multiple functions that inhibits the power supply ( glycolysis = glutaminolysis ) of tumor cells by appropriate medication and thereby the Warburg effect could be revised.