In a PET scan a patient is injected with radioactively labeled glucose.Why would cancer cells take up more of the radioactive glucose than surrounding non-cancerous tissues?
A)Because the produce more enzymes found in glycolysis.
B)Because they are more sensitive to radiation.
C)Because they require more oxygen to metabolize glucose.
D)Because they rely more on oxidative phosphorylation than glycolysis to produce ATP.
E)Because they are less sensitive to radiation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cancer cells have a higher rate of glycolysis compared to surrounding non-cancerous tissues, which is known as the Warburg effect. This means that cancer cells produce more enzymes involved in glycolysis, such as hexokinase and pyruvate kinase, which help them take up and metabolize glucose more efficiently. Therefore, cancer cells will also take up more of the radioactively labeled glucose, which is used in PET scans as a diagnostic tool.

In a PET Scan a Patient Is Injected with Radioactively