Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41711048›Full record

ReviewClinical and translational medicine2026

Lactylation in colorectal cancer: Unveiling novel mechanisms in metabolism, progression and therapeutic targeting.

Ming Liu, Weiwei Li, Yi Ji, Yanqing Chen, Guoli Wei, Jiege Huo, Tao Gui

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Clinical and translational medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ming LiuAffiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Weiwei LiAffiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Yi JiAffiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Yanqing ChenAffiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Guoli WeiAffiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Jiege HuoAffiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0463-134X
Tao GuiAffiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4764-4834

Funding

Jiangsu Clinical Innovation Center of Digestive Cancer of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2021.6Jiangsu Province Leading Talents Cultivation Project for Traditional Chinese Medicine SLJ0329Medical Scientific Research Project of Jiangsu Provincial Commission of Health H2023048National Natural Science Foundation of China 82004288Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20241997Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20241998
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundColorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality characterised by a unique metabolic microenvironment and complex interactions with the gut microbiota. Lactylation, a novel post-translational modification derived from lactate, has emerged as a key epigenetic regulator connecting metabolic reprogramming to gene expression. While its general roles in cancer are recognised, the tissue-specific regulatory network of lactylation in colorectal cancer-particularly its interplay with the gut microbiome and specific chemotherapy resistance mechanisms-remains underexplored. MAIN BODY: This review systematically dissects the dynamic 'writer‒eraser‒reader' network of lactylation, highlighting its distinct oncogenic functions in colorectal cancer. We reveal a critical 'microbiome‒metabolism‒epigenetics' axis in which gut flora-derived metabolites (including D-lactate) remodel the tumour microenvironment and drive immune evasion. Beyond histone modifications, we emphasise the pivotal role of non-histone lactylation targets (e.g., eEF1A2, PD-L1) in orchestrating malignant proliferation and promoting liver metastasis by priming the pre-metastatic niche. Furthermore, we elucidate novel mechanisms by which lactylation induces resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin), specifically through the enhancement of DNA repair and the suppression of ferroptosis. We also critically evaluate the pharmacological challenges hindering clinical translation, such as the poor selectivity of current broad-spectrum inhibitors. SHORT

conclusionLactylation serves as a fundamental metabolic‒epigenetic link driving aggressive phenotypes in colorectal cancer. By delineating these tissue-specific mechanisms and proposing next-generation site-specific targeting strategies, this review provides a theoretical foundation for developing precision medicine interventions to overcome therapy resistance in colorectal cancer patients.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsAnimalsDisease ProgressionHumansMetabolic ReprogrammingTumor Microenvironmentchemoresistancecolorectal cancergut microbiotalactylationtumour microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41711048
PMCPMC12917924

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.