The mechanism of lactylation modification in the progression and drug resistance of lung cancer: A review

Lactylation is a newly identified post-translational modification of proteins that occurs in both histones and non-histones. Studies have shown that lactylation plays a key role in the progression of lung cancer (LC) and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Aberrant histone lactylation can alter gene expression in tumor and immune cells, thereby affecting LC progression and immune suppression. Lactylation of non-histones also plays a role in regulating proliferation and drug resistance in LC. This article provides a brief introduction to lactylation modification, reviews its role and mechanism in the progression and drug resistance of LC, shares the latest research results of lactylation modification in LC, and discusses its potential application in tumor targeted therapy and combined immunotherapy.