Cancer cells produce an acidic tumor microenvironment because the acids and protons produced in the cancer cells due to enhanced metabolism are transported outside the tumor cells. Inside the tumor cells the pH value remains normal, otherwise the cancer cells would die at lower pH because of several reasons, for example enzymes won't work anymore or will work differently at lower pH.
Since the metabolic rate of tumor cells is hgher and the amount of lactic acid produced is huge, cancer cells will have acidic pH, which it promotes angiogenesis invivo-
Cancer cells produce an acidic tumor microenvironment because the acids and protons produced in the cancer cells due to enhanced metabolism are transported outside the tumor cells. Inside the tumor cells the pH value remains normal, otherwise the cancer cells would die at lower pH because of several reasons, for example enzymes won't work anymore or will work differently at lower pH.
Yes, Zachary is right. Lysosomes inside the cells have acidic pH primarily in order to digest macromolecules, maybe just featuring a little stomach in the cell :)
However, there are also reports of cancer cells which are defective in acidification of lysosomes, and the elevation of the pH can be used to release stored basic drugs which won't be released from common acidic lysosomes in normal cells (Ndolo et al., J. Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010, 333, 120-128.).
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