INTRACELLULAR PH AS A NOVEL PROGNOSTIC MARKER FOR CANCER RISK ASSESSMENT

Intracellular pH (pHi) is a tightly regulated biochemical parameter essential for maintaining normal cellular functions, including enzyme activity, cell-cycle progression, and metabolic balance. Persistent alterations in pHi can disrupt the structure and properties of key regulatory enzymes, potentially driving abnormal cell division and contributing to oncogenic transformation. Emerging evidence suggests that cancer cells often exhibit a characteristic shift toward higher intracellular pH and lower extracellular pH, creating a microenvironment that promotes proliferation, invasion, and survival. Therefore, accurate measurement of pHi may offer a valuable biomarker for early detection and risk prediction of cancer. This study proposes the use of intracellular pH as a novel predictive marker, highlighting its potential to improve early diagnosis, enhance risk stratification, and support the development of pH-targeted therapeutic strategies. Further research into reliable pHi measurement techniques may establish pH dysregulation as an important indicator in cancer risk assessment.