Fig. 2

Anaerobic glycolysis promotes the growth and metastasis of thyroid cancer cells. Anaerobic glycolysis of tumor cells produces a large accumulation of lactic acid, which acidifies the tumor microenvironment. Tumor growth mainly consists of three steps: self-renewal, limited cell division or differentiation, and an unlimited state. Tumor metastasis includes colonization, extravasation, intravasation, and invasion. A hypoxic environment, excessive lactic acid and anaerobic glycolysis can promote the rapid growth and metastasis of tumor cells. cMyc, HIF1α, and mTOR can promote the formation of lactic acid and the expression of GLUT1 to help tumor growth. The simultaneous hypoxia can promote tumor metastasis. The increased influx of sodium ions in tumor cells increases the level of HCO3-, further promoting tumor microenvironmental acidification and metastasis. Fatty acid oxidation in macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and M2 markers can also promote tumor cell migration. The glutamine produced by tumor cells can promote the production of succinate, thereby making HIF1α stabilization, which further promotes the hypoxia of the tumor microenvironment, so that tumor cells undergo anaerobic glycolysis, thereby assisting tumor cell growth and metastasis