articleAdvanced ScienceJan 12, 2026GOLD OA

Targeting Lactate and Lactylation in Cancer Metabolism and Immunotherapy

JGJ. GongYXYuhang XieZWZhijie WengYWYongzhi WuLLLongjiang Li

Sichuan University

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefdoajpubmed

Abstract

Lactate has evolved from being regarded as a byproduct of glycolysis to a pivotal regulator of cancer metabolism and signaling. The Warburg effect underscores how elevated lactate production meets the biosynthetic demands of highly proliferative cancer cells, while shaping an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that supports cancer growth and metastasis. The discovery of lactylation, a novel post-translational modification, has further expanded the conceptual landscape, revealing how lactate serves as both a metabolite and a signaling molecule that couples metabolic reprogramming with gene regulation. This review delineates how lactate dynamically shuttles through the TME and boosts cancer…

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8
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FWCI
94.09
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100%
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191
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6

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Warburg effect
  • Tumor microenvironment
  • Cancer
  • Cancer cell
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Glycolysis
  • Reprogramming
  • Immunotherapy
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Good health and well-being
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