Role and clinical importance of lactylation in tumors (Review)

Lactic acid was once considered a metabolic waste product of glycolysis; however, it is now know to serve a role in tumorigenesis and progression. Lactylation is a novel post‑translational modification in which lactyl groups derived from lactic acid are covalently attached to lysine residues. This modification is not only present on histones but is also widely distributed among non‑histone proteins, markedly impacting gene expression, protein function and cellular metabolism. Lactylation participates in the proliferation, invasion, metabolism and immune evasion of tumor cells by regulating metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modulation. The present review comprehensively discusses the role of lactylation in the tumor microenvironment, and elucidates its relationship with tumor immune evasion and drug resistance. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying lactylation, the identification of its regulatory factors and the exploration of therapeutic strategies targeting lactylation may yield novel insights into the clinical treatment of tumors.