For many years, lactate has been considered as metabolic waste of glycolytic metabolism. Just recently, evidences showed that it has new roles in the tumor microenvironment, either as metabolic fuel or as a signaling molecule. Indeed, lactate acts as signaling molecule affecting intracellular proteins’ functions and regulating cells’ functions.
It is now clear that increased lactate levels are associated with greater metastasis, tumor resurgence, and a dismal prognosis. Lactate can be metabolized or transferred to tumor surrounding cells, resulting in metabolic reprogramming. Even though the prominent role of lactate in cancer onset and progression is clear, there’s still a gap in understanding the exact mechanisms leading to malignant cell proliferation.
This article collection aims to collect Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Opinion articles on the signaling pathways of lactate in the tumor microenvironment. We welcome manuscripts focusing on the most current achievement in the field, which includes but are not limited to:
- Lactate signaling in cells;
- Lactate cells reprogramming;
- Lactate and lactate-interacting proteins as therapeutic targets;
- Cancer prognostic signatures based on lactate metabolism;
- New roles in lactate and lactate metabolism.
For many years, lactate has been considered as metabolic waste of glycolytic metabolism. Just recently, evidences showed that it has new roles in the tumor microenvironment, either as metabolic fuel or as a signaling molecule. Indeed, lactate acts as signaling molecule affecting intracellular proteins’ functions and regulating cells’ functions.
It is now clear that increased lactate levels are associated with greater metastasis, tumor resurgence, and a dismal prognosis. Lactate can be metabolized or transferred to tumor surrounding cells, resulting in metabolic reprogramming. Even though the prominent role of lactate in cancer onset and progression is clear, there’s still a gap in understanding the exact mechanisms leading to malignant cell proliferation.
This article collection aims to collect Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Opinion articles on the signaling pathways of lactate in the tumor microenvironment. We welcome manuscripts focusing on the most current achievement in the field, which includes but are not limited to:
- Lactate signaling in cells;
- Lactate cells reprogramming;
- Lactate and lactate-interacting proteins as therapeutic targets;
- Cancer prognostic signatures based on lactate metabolism;
- New roles in lactate and lactate metabolism.