Warburg effect? (Type B Lactic Acidosis)

Q: What is Warburg effect? (Type B Lactic Acidosis)


Answer: Warburg effect explains the lactic acidosis in tumor cells. It propose that tumor cells shifts their production of energy predominantly to a high rate of glycolysis followed by lactic acid fermentation in the cytosol, resulting in lactic acidosis in cancer patients. Mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are thought to be responsible for the Warburg effect.

Dr. Otto Heinrich Warburg,  a German physiologist and a physician was the sole recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1931. He was nominated for the award 47 times in his life.


References:

1. Friedenberg AS, Brandoff DE, Schiffman FJ. Type B lactic acidosis as a severe metabolic complication in lymphoma and leukemia: a case series from a single institution and literature review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2007; 86:225. 

2. Sia P, Plumb TJ, Fillaus JA. Type B lactic acidosis associated with multiple myeloma. Am J Kidney Dis 2013; 62:633.