High lactate levels predict likelihood of metastases, tumor recurrence, and restricted patient survival in human cervical cancers

Pathophysiological parameters such as vascular density and tissue oxygen pressure can influence tumor malignancy and patient survival. Observations from our group showed that metastatic spread of carcino-mas of the uterine cervix and of head and neck cancers was closely correlated with the lactate concentration in the primary lesion. Because these results were obtained in a low number of patients, the present investigation was performed to verify such a correlation in a larger population. Cryobiopsies were taken at first diagnosis of cervical cancer from 34 patients. Tissue concentrations of ATP, glucose, and lactate in viable tumor regions of these biopsies were measured microscopically using the technique of imaging bioluminescence. There was no correlation between stage or grade and any of the metabolic parameters measured. ATP and glucose concentrations were not significantly different in meta-static and nonmetastatic primary tumors (P> 0.05). However, lactat