Immunotherapy stands out as an innovative and effective treatment modality that has made considerable strides in clinical practice, establishing itself as the fourth cornerstone of cancer treatment following surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Nevertheless, its efficacy in treating solid tumours is relatively low, which restricts its widespread clinical application. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are pivotal in regulating protein function, thereby impacting physiological and pathological processes, disease progression and the tumour microenvironment (TME). These modifications can also influence the efficacy of immunotherapy. Among the various PTMs, lactylation (Kla) is an emerging and noteworthy one. Lactate is integral to tumour metabolic reprogramming and is instrumental in shaping the TME. Focusing on lactate and lactylation modifications has been shown to markedly improve the efficacy of immunotherapy. This review delves into the forefront of research on lactylation in tumour immunotherapy and elucidates its mechanisms within tumour immunity. The goal is to offer novel strategies and directions for future research, with the aim of enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in clinical settings.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.