The Warburg effect, characterized by the preferential conversion of glucose to lactate even in the presence of oxygen and functional mitochondria, is a prominent metabolic hallmark of cancer cells. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the Warburg effect in cancer and its implications. The Warburg effect promotes tumor progression and immunosuppression through multiple mechanisms, including the reprogramming of macrophages and the impairment of T-cell functionality. Recent pharmacological strategies aimed at targeting glycolytic enzymes have shown promise, but challenges in achieving therapeutic efficacy remain. The review also discusses the potential of the Warburg effect as an early diagnostic tool and the multifaceted roles of lactate within the tumor microenvironment (TME), emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic target to disrupt metabolic interactions between tumor and immune cells.The Warburg effect, characterized by the preferential conversion of glucose to lactate even in the presence of oxygen and functional mitochondria, is a prominent metabolic hallmark of cancer cells. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the Warburg effect in cancer and its implications. The Warburg effect promotes tumor progression and immunosuppression through multiple mechanisms, including the reprogramming of macrophages and the impairment of T-cell functionality. Recent pharmacological strategies aimed at targeting glycolytic enzymes have shown promise, but challenges in achieving therapeutic efficacy remain. The review also discusses the potential of the Warburg effect as an early diagnostic tool and the multifaceted roles of lactate within the tumor microenvironment (TME), emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic target to disrupt metabolic interactions between tumor and immune cells.