Lactate may help shape cells in a hard-to-treat brain tumor
Original title: Lactate epigenetically shapes tumor cell states in H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas
How far along is this research?
This is a preprint. Other scientists have not checked it yet, so treat it as an early signal rather than an answer.
The treatment idea was only tested in cells and animals.
The short version
Lab work hints that a tumor's own waste product helps its cells turn aggressive.
What was studied. Researchers looked at H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas. These brain tumors are deadly and have no good treatment options. The team used tumor cells, animal models, tumor tissue, and brain scans from patients.
What they found. A chemical mark called H3K27Lac was high only in these tumor cells. Lactate levels were uneven inside the tumors. Adding lactate raised the mark and switched on genes tied to worse patient outcomes. Blocking a protein pair called CBP/p300 lowered the mark and calmed those genes in early tests.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This points to a possible new target for future drugs. Blocking CBP/p300 may be worth testing in these tumors. It does not change any care a patient can get today.
What it doesn't mean: This is early research. The work was done in cells and animals, not in people. No one has shown it helps a person live longer or feel better. It is not something a doctor can offer now, and it is not a cure.
Source: bioRxiv (preprint), October 6, 2026 · Read the original
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