The most significant metabolic features of malignant tumors is their highly effective glycolysis, i.e., the "Warburg effect" . The active degree in tumor glycolysis is closely related to cancer growth and aggressive. Although the mechanism of efficient glycolysis in tumor are involved in oncogene events, the abnormalities of key enzymes in glycolysis, play a pivotal role in tumor Warburg effect. Among others, there is more significant alterations of hexokinase (HK ) in the expression, subcellular distribution and kinetics, and which is is bound up with the prominent metabolic phenotype, proliferation and apoptosis of malignant cell. HK-Ⅱ may be a potential target for exploring the diagnosis and therapy of tumor.