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The Significance of Microenvironmental and Circulating Lactate in Breast Cancer
Vincenza Frisardi1, Simone Canovi2, Salvatore Vaccaro3
1Geriatric Unit, Neuromotor Department, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|October 28, 2023
Summary
Breast cancer cells heavily rely on glucose metabolism, producing lactate. Elevated lactate levels may indicate a poorer prognosis, suggesting lactate as a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Metabolic pathways
Background:
- Cancer cells exhibit altered glucose metabolism, favoring glycolysis.
- Tumor microenvironments, including hypoxia and stromal cells, contribute to extracellular acidification.
- Metabolic plasticity is a hallmark of aggressive breast cancer phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of lactate in breast cancer.
- To explore lactate as a potential metabolic target for breast cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of metabolic pathways in cancer cells.
- Review of preliminary scientific evidence on circulating lactate levels.
Main Results:
- Breast cancer cells exhibit a shift towards glycolytic metabolism, producing significant amounts of lactate.
- Extracellular matrix acidification is linked to tumor stromal cells and hypoxia.
- Preliminary data suggest a correlation between high circulating lactate (hyperlactacidemia) and poor breast cancer prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Lactate production and its associated metabolic shifts are characteristic of breast cancer.
- Hyperlactacidemia shows potential as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer.
- Lactate warrants further investigation as a therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment.
