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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
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Establishment of an Extracellular Acidic pH Culture System
Published on: November 19, 2017
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Tumor acidosis: Fusing mitochondrial dynamics and lipid metabolism
Sébastien Ibanez1, Olivier Feron2
1Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Cell Metabolism
|December 3, 2025
Summary
Tumor acidosis, a key cancer cell stress, enhances metabolic flexibility. This supports tumor resilience by promoting mitochondria fusion and boosting respiration.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Tumor Microenvironment
Background:
- Cancer cells face significant stresses within tumors due to high metabolic activity.
- These stresses include nutrient deprivation, waste accumulation, hypoxia, and acidosis.
- Acidosis is a prevalent condition in the tumor microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of acidosis in supporting cancer cell metabolism and resilience.
- To understand how acidosis influences tumor fitness under stress.
Main Methods:
- The study focuses on the impact of acidosis on cancer cell physiology.
- Analysis of metabolic flexibility and stress resilience mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Acidosis emerges as a dominant environmental factor influencing cancer cell adaptation.
- Acidosis promotes mitochondria fusion, enhancing cellular respiration.
- This metabolic flexibility aids tumor fitness and resilience to other stresses.
Conclusions:
- Tumor acidosis is a critical factor in cancer cell survival and adaptation.
- Targeting acidosis may represent a therapeutic strategy to overcome tumor resilience.
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