Seminar Lactate and Cancer: Angel or Demon?
5 June 2026
Prof. Jesús F. Rodríguez Huertas - Department of Physiology, University of Granada, Spain (host Prof. C. Prata and R. Fato)
- 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
- Online on Microsoft Teams and in person : Aula Magna Biochimica, Via Irnerio 48, Bologna
- Health, Science & Technology In Italian and English
How to partecipate
Free admission
Program
Lactate is a metabolite produced from pyruvate in order to maintain an optimal NAD+ pool and to cope with situations of metabolic stress (fight-or-flight responses, intense running, etc.). Its formation allows the mobilization of large amounts of glycogen and ensures that sufficient pyruvate enters the mitochondria to meet high energy demands.
Historically, the incorrectly termed “lactic acid” was believed to be responsible for proton production and fatigue caused by acidosis. However, for many years we have known that this is not the case, and that lactate has numerous functions, some of them newly emerging and highly relevant in clinical applications. Among these, its role in the prevention and even the “treatment” of certain types of cancer is particularly noteworthy.
In this short seminar, I will discuss and support this function, clarify the misunderstood “Warburg effect,” and provide simple, practical advice for its use by patients in collaboration with specialist teams (oncologists and exercise experts).
Speakers
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Prof. Jesús Francisco Rodríguez Huertas
Department of Physiology, University of Granada, Spain
Prof. Jesús Francisco Rodríguez Huertas has been Full Professor of Physiology at the University of Granada since 2012, with extensive international experience in the fields of exercise physiology, nutrition, mitochondrial metabolism, and oxidative stress. After obtaining his PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Granada, he carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Bologna, focusing on mitochondrial functionality and cellular aging, under the supervision of Prof. Giorgio Lenaz. He also conducted research stays at Columbia University (New York) and the Rowett Research Institute (United Kingdom). His scientific activity mainly focuses on sports physiology, mitochondrial dynamics, the interaction between nutrition and physical exercise, moderate hypoxia, and the molecular mechanisms associated with aging and oxidative stress. He is the author of numerous high-impact international scientific publications and serves as editor of the journal Antioxidants. He has supervised 19 doctoral theses and coordinated several national and international competitive research projects. He served as Director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology at the University of Granada (2013–2021) and is currently President of the Spanish Society of Physiological Sciences (2022–2026).
Contacts
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Cecilia Prata, Romana Fato