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Lactic Acid in Tumour Biology
Cristina Cruz1,2, Ignasi Barba1,2
1Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain.
Metabolites
|January 27, 2026
Summary
Lactic acid, initially viewed as a metabolic byproduct, actively drives tumor progression. This review highlights its pivotal roles in suppressing immunity, promoting metastasis, and influencing gene expression within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Tumor Microenvironment (TME) Research
Background:
- Lactic acid is highly concentrated in the TME, often exceeding 40 mM.
- Initially considered a byproduct of the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis), its role is now recognized as more complex.
- High lactic acid levels are linked to poor patient outcomes, including increased metastasis and reduced survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the multifaceted roles of elevated lactic acid in the TME.
- To explore lactic acid's impact on tumor progression and biology.
- To summarize current knowledge on lactic acid's influence beyond a simple metabolic byproduct.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on lactic acid in the TME.
- Analysis of studies correlating lactic acid levels with tumor progression markers.
- Examination of evidence for lactic acid's role in immune suppression, metastasis, and epigenetic modulation.
Main Results:
- Elevated lactic acid in the TME suppresses anti-tumor immune responses.
- Lactic acid actively facilitates tumor metastasis and cellular senescence.
- Emerging evidence suggests lactic acid can modulate gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms like histone lactylation.
Conclusions:
- Lactic acid is a key player in tumor biology, not just a metabolic byproduct.
- Understanding lactic acid's roles in the TME is crucial for developing new cancer therapies.
- Further research into epigenetic modifications like lactylation may reveal novel therapeutic targets.
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