Abstract : Unusual metabolism is a hallmark of cancer know as the Warburg effect. The methodology of eco-evolutionary games can describe this effect.
We mathematically model the game between two metabolic strategies in the neoplasm: oxidative phosphorylation vs glycolysis. We show that our model results in 5 possible dynamic regimes. We conclude that lower glucose uptake rates for glycolytic cells help maintain less dangerous non-glycolytic tumors and hinder early tumor progression. This conclusion provides new treatment insights.