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Site-Specific Lysine Lactylation via Genetic Code Expansion in E. coli and Mammalian Cells
Published on: February 24, 2026
[Lactate and redox status in malignant tumors]
U G A Sattler1, S Walenta, W Mueller-Klieser
1Institut für Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Duesbergweg 6, 55099 Mainz, Deutschland.
Der Anaesthesist
|April 28, 2007
Summary
Elevated tumor lactate levels, indicating high glycolysis, correlate with increased malignancy and treatment resistance in cancers. Targeting tumor metabolism, particularly the lactate/pyruvate ratio, may improve oncological outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Metabolism
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Tumor carbohydrate metabolism significantly influences cancer behavior and treatment efficacy.
- Elevated lactate levels, a marker of high glycolytic activity, are observed in various primary tumors like cervix carcinomas and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
- This elevated glycolysis correlates with advanced malignancy, increased metastasis, and radiotherapy resistance.
Purpose:
- To summarize evidence on the role of tumor carbohydrate metabolism in cancer malignancy and treatment outcomes.
- To explore the link between therapeutic resistance, glycolysis, and the radical scavenging properties of glycolytic intermediates (pyruvate and lactate).
- To introduce a novel quantitative bioluminescence technique for imaging the lactate/pyruvate ratio in tumor biopsies.
Summary:
- High glycolytic activity, evidenced by elevated lactate, is linked to increased malignancy and resistance to therapies in cancers.
- Glycolytic intermediates like pyruvate and lactate may contribute to therapeutic resistance through their radical scavenging potential and influence on cellular redox status.
- A new quantitative bioluminescence method has been developed to image the lactate/pyruvate ratio in tumor biopsies.
Impact:
- Highlights the critical role of tumor metabolism in cancer progression and treatment response.
- Suggests that targeting tumor glycolysis and redox status could be a promising therapeutic strategy.
- Emphasizes the need for future oncological research to focus on the tumor redox status and its implications for cancer treatment.
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