PDP1 and cancer: Taken together, the ranking list of pathways at the pyruvate junction in cancer cells is as follows: (1) the production of sufficient amounts of ATP via PDH, the TCA cycle, and ETC/OXPHOS; (2) maintenance of the cytosolic redox balance by disposing of overflow electrons via the LDH reaction; and (3) the use of pyruvate for the synthesis of oxaloacetate (PC reaction) and alanine (ALT reaction).