Lactylation in cancer: metabolic mechanism and therapeutic strategies.

Cell Death Discov

The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China.

Published: February 2025

Recent progress in cancer metabolism research has identified lactylation as a critical post-translational modification influencing tumor development and progression. The process relies on lactate accumulation and the activation of lactate-sensitive acyltransferases. Beyond its role in epigenetic regulation, lactylation has emerged as a significant factor in tumor metabolism and evolution, offering fresh opportunities for developing targeted therapies that transcend traditional approaches. This review explores the growing importance of lactylation in cancer biology and highlights its potential for advancing diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11842571PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41420-025-02349-4DOI Listing

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