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The Ph paradigm in cancer

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 14–19 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Malignant tissues show a peculiar feature regarding pH: while normal tissues have a higher extracellular pH than intracellular pH, in cancer is exactly the opposite. This phenomenon is called the inversion of the pH gradient and is now considered a hallmark of malignancy. For some time, this inverted pH gradient was believed to be a secondary effect of cancer. Now, it is becoming clear that pH inversion is not an innocent consequence, but a key player in the etiopathogenesis of cancer. Therefore, addressing this issue as part of an integral treatment of neoplasia should be a necessary step for improving cancer patients’ outcomes. However, the knowledge acquired in this regard through basic research has not reached bedside treatments. The most striking fact is that there are repurposed drugs and nutraceuticals with low or no toxicity that can modify the pH gradient inversion. However, these drugs have not even been tested in cancer treatment.

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Fig. 1: pH gradient inversion starts with the neoplastic transformation with the increased activity of NHE1 that increases intracellular alkalosis through the exportation of protons (H+).

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Acknowledgements

Third International Acid-Base Symposium, June 24–28, 2018, Smolenice Castle, Slovakia.

Funding information

This article is published as part of a supplement sponsored by NuOmix-Research k.s. The conference was financially supported by Protina Pharmazeutische GmbH, Germany and Sirius Pharma, Germany, and organized by NuOmix-Research k.s. Neither company had any role in writing of the manuscript.

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  1. Obra Social de la Alimentacion, Maipu 712/piso 7B, 1006, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Tomas Koltai

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Koltai, T. The Ph paradigm in cancer. Eur J Clin Nutr 74 (Suppl 1), 14–19 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0684-6

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