Elevated tumor lactate concentrations predict for an increased risk of metastases in head-and-neck cancer.

Purpose: Hypoxia shifts the balance of cellular energy production toward glycolysis with lactate generation as a by-product. Quantitative bioluminescence imaging allows for the quantitation of lactate concentrations in individual tumors. We assessed the relationship between pretreatment tumor lactate concentrations and subsequent development of metastatic disease in patients with newly diagnosed head-and-neck cancer. Methods and Materials: At the time of biopsy of the primary site, a separate specimen was taken and flash-frozen for subsequent quantitation of lactate concentration using a luciferase bioluminescence technique. The twodimensional spatial distribution of the bioluminescence int…