# The role of lactylation in breast cancer development: mechanisms, clinical translation and new strategies for treatment

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how lactylation, a new protein modification, contributes to breast cancer growth and suggests targeting lactylation as a treatment strategy.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of lactylation's role in breast cancer and proposes new therapeutic strategies targeting lactylation.

## Key findings

- Lactylation (Kla) promotes breast cancer progression by altering metabolism and the tumor microenvironment.
- Inhibitors targeting lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and MCTs show tumor-suppressive and immunotherapy-enhancing effects.
- Combining lactylation-targeted therapies with immunotherapy may improve breast cancer treatment outcomes.

## Abstract

Worldwide, breast cancer (BC) is a common and deadly illness that poses a serious risk to women’s health. Its development is intimately associated with tumor microenvironment (TME) alteration and metabolic problems. Lactic acid, a principal byproduct of glycolysis, not only facilitates the acidity of the TME but also interferes with cellular circadian rhythms. Moreover, it exerts multifaceted regulatory effects on breast cancer growth by facilitating a new post-translational modification(PTM)ficatio lactylation (Kla). By accelerating metabolic reprogramming, encouraging immunological microenvironment dysregulation, and intensifying tumor growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance, Kla has been shown in studies to contribute to the advancement of BC and poor prognosis. Lactate production and transport, especially targeting lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and monocarboxylate transporter protein (MCT), show promise in BC treatment. Both tumor-suppressive and immunotherapy-enhancing effects are exhibited by inhibitors that target LDH and MCTs, and they may work in concert with immunotherapy. The function of Kla in BC, its underlying processes, and the possibility of treating the condition by specifically targeting Kla are all examined in this review. Additionally, it suggests the creation of precision-targeted treatments, providing fresh viewpoints on metabolic treatments and combination treatments for BC.