Micromanaging aerobic respiration and glycolysis in cancer cells

•Various oncogenes and tumor suppressors are associated with cancer cell metabolism.•Metabolic reprogramming involves pathways that rely upon microRNA regulation.•MicroRNAs ensure post-transcriptional buffering of adaptive metabolic responses.•Dysregulated microRNAs can impact energy flux in cancer cells.•Cancer metabolism may be disrupted by novel, multi-target, therapeutic interventions.