Cancer cells often find ways to survive and grow even when treatments try to stop them. One way they do this is by using a protein called Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA). This protein helps the tumor build up lactate, which helps the cancer progress and resist drugs. It also plays a role in repairing DNA damage within the tumor.
Beyond helping the cancer grow, LDHA changes the environment around the tumor. It affects how immune cells—the body's natural defenders—behave and function. Because this protein influences both the growth of the tumor and the behavior of the immune system, it is being looked at as a promising target for new treatments.
Researchers are looking into ways to block LDHA. The goal is to see if stopping this protein can make current treatments, like CAR-T cell therapy or immune checkpoint blockade, work better. While these findings show promise for future therapies, the research currently focuses on the potential of LDHA as a target rather than established clinical results.
