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Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Yuantao Zhang
    • Yiyang Shang
    • Hai Zeng
    • Ruiling Ning
    • Xinran Zhang
    • Dongxu Ao
    • Jun Cai
    • Qingqing Ye
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China, Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110000, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530000, P.R. China, Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434000, P.R. China
    Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
  • Article Number: 181
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    Published online on: August 28, 2026
       https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2026.9187
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Abstract

Therapeutic resistance is the main obstacle to long‑term survival in lung cancer, with metabolic reprogramming identified as a key factor in this failure. Accumulating evidence suggests that metabolic reprogramming, particularly the aberrant metabolism of lactate, plays a crucial role in the progression of lung cancer and the failure of treatment. Beyond its traditional characterization as a metabolic byproduct, lactate is increasingly recognized as a multifunctional signaling metabolite that connects tumor‑intrinsic metabolic adaptation with the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. In the context of lung cancer, an increase in aerobic glycolysis and dysregulated lactate transport result in the persistent accumulation of lactate and extracellular acidification. This metabolic environment fosters tumor invasion, epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and the acquisition of cancer stemness, in part through lactylation‑mediated epigenetic reprogramming. Importantly, emerging research indicates that lactate metabolism serves as a unifying mechanism underlying resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy in lung cancer. Lactate‑driven metabolic support, signaling pathways and epigenetic modifications collectively establish a self‑reinforcing network of resistance across multiple treatment modalities. Key metabolic enzymes and transporters, such as lactate dehydrogenase and monocarboxylate transporters, function as critical regulatory nodes in this process. The present review aimed to summarize recent advancements in lactate production, transport and signaling in lung cancer, with a particular focus on the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and pan‑therapeutic resistance. The present review discusses novel lactate‑related biomarkers and treatment approaches, focusing on their existing translational limitations.
View Figures

Figure 1

Lactate-mediated metabolic crosstalk
in the lung tumor microenvironment. Tumor-derived lactate is
transported through MCT1/4 and promotes extracellular
acidification, CAF-tumor metabolic exchange, angiogenesis,
immune-cell dysfunction and immunosuppressive cell activity.
Histone and non-histone lactylation further contribute to
transcriptional reprogramming and immune suppression. CAF,
cancer-associated fibroblast; MCT, monocarboxylate transporter;
MHC, major histocompatibility complex; DC, dendritic cell; SGK1,
serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1; MDSC, myeloid-derived
suppressor cell; Arg1, arginase 1; TAM, tumor-associated
macrophage; IFN, interferon; H3K18la, histone H3 lysine 18
lactylation; H4K12la, histone H4 lysine 12 lactylation; LDHA,
lactate dehydrogenase A; RPA1, replication protein A1; APOC2,
apolipoprotein C-II; NFAT, nuclear factor of activated T-cells;
GLUT1, glucose transporter 1; bFGF, basic fibroblast growth factor;
EC, endothelial cell; Treg, regulatory T-cell; FOXP3, forkhead box
P3. The figure was created in BioRender [Zhang Y (2026) https://BioRender.com/b8eadbd].

Figure 2

Lactate-mediated pan-therapeutic
resistance in lung cancer. The LDHA-lactate-MCT1/4 axis forms a
central resistance hub connecting metabolic support, prosurvival
signaling, lactylation, immune escape and redox regulation, thereby
promoting resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy,
immunotherapy and radiotherapy. LDHA, lactate dehydrogenase A; MCT,
monocarboxylate transporter; PD-1, programmed cell death protein 1;
PD-L1, programmed death-ligand 1; YTHDF2, YTH
N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein 2;
m6A, N6-methyladenosine; AMBRA1, autophagy
and beclin 1 regulator 1; POM121, POM121 transmembrane nucleoporin;
H3K18la, histone H3 lysine 18 lactylation; H4K12la, histone H4
lysine 12 lactylation; ROS, reactive oxygen species; ATP, adenosine
triphosphate; mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; MET, MET
receptor tyrosine kinase; HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; GPR81, G
protein-coupled receptor 81. The figure was created in BioRender
[Zhang Y (2026) https://BioRender.com/f5p2epm].
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Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Zhang Y, Shang Y, Zeng H, Ning R, Zhang X, Ao D, Cai J and Ye Q: Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review). Oncol Rep 56: 181, 2026.
APA
Zhang, Y., Shang, Y., Zeng, H., Ning, R., Zhang, X., Ao, D. ... Ye, Q. (2026). Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review). Oncology Reports, 56, 181. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2026.9187
MLA
Zhang, Y., Shang, Y., Zeng, H., Ning, R., Zhang, X., Ao, D., Cai, J., Ye, Q."Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review)". Oncology Reports 56.4 (2026): 181.
Chicago
Zhang, Y., Shang, Y., Zeng, H., Ning, R., Zhang, X., Ao, D., Cai, J., Ye, Q."Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review)". Oncology Reports 56, no. 4 (2026): 181. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2026.9187
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhang Y, Shang Y, Zeng H, Ning R, Zhang X, Ao D, Cai J and Ye Q: Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review). Oncol Rep 56: 181, 2026.
APA
Zhang, Y., Shang, Y., Zeng, H., Ning, R., Zhang, X., Ao, D. ... Ye, Q. (2026). Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review). Oncology Reports, 56, 181. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2026.9187
MLA
Zhang, Y., Shang, Y., Zeng, H., Ning, R., Zhang, X., Ao, D., Cai, J., Ye, Q."Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review)". Oncology Reports 56.4 (2026): 181.
Chicago
Zhang, Y., Shang, Y., Zeng, H., Ning, R., Zhang, X., Ao, D., Cai, J., Ye, Q."Research progress on lactate metabolism in lung cancer: Tumorigenesis, drug resistance and clinical translation (Review)". Oncology Reports 56, no. 4 (2026): 181. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2026.9187
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