The intracellular physiological pH of our body is 7.1-7.6 that is alkaline.
While, tumor cells require oxygen free environment to grow and proliferate. In order to maintain that they create acidic conditions using pathways like anaerobic glycolysis and lactic acid production to create that acidic microenvironment for itself. Hence, it is considered that acidity is a cause of cancer. Rather, it is like acidic microenvironment is a result of cancer cell reproducing inside the body.
hence, this a misconception. Acidity doesn’t trigger cancer.
Use of this acidity in cancer treatment
Since long, the treatment of cancer is mostly focused on killing individual cancer cells. Now, the researchers are working on targeting the acidic microenvironment to hinder their growth.
There are some new strategies which are being worked upon. Like, Using the acidity to enable drug intake only by cancer cells and ultimately killing them using its toxic effects.
The maintaining of intracellular pH is a feature which is common to both cancer as well as normal cells. Difference between the two is that oxygen free environment that cancer cells require hinders the growth of normal cells.
Sources: On the Importance of Acidity in Cancer Cells and Therapy - PMC
What do you think are other misconceptions about cancers?
MBH/PS