An Innovative Approach to Understanding and Treating Cancer: Targeting pH - From Etiopathogenesis to New Therapeutic Avenues

An Innovative Approach to Studying and Treating Cancer: Targeting pH describes one of the few characteristics of cancer that is not shared by normal tissues: the reversal or inversion of the pH gradient when intracellular pH becomes alkaline and extracellular pH becomes acid. This is now recognized as one of the most selective and differential hallmarks of all cancer cells and tissues, being the opposite of the condition found in normal tissues and a potential target in order to achieve either a stable disease or even regression with no toxicity. The book discusses topics such as lactic acid and its transport system in the pH paradigm, mechanisms to decrease extra cellular pH and increase intracellular pH, NHE-1 activity in cancer, carbonic anhydrases, vacuolar ATPase proton pump, and the sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter system. Additionally, it discusses complementary pharmacological interventions, cellular acidification and extracellular alkalinization as a new and integral approach to cancer treatment.