Lipid mechanisms in hallmarks of cancer

Alterations in Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins Induced by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Osteosarcoma around the Knee Joint: A Retrospective Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the serum lipid profiles of patients with localized osteosarcoma around the knee joint before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

After retrospectively screening the data of 742 patients between January 2007 and July 2020, 50 patients aged 13 to 39 years with Enneking stage II disease were included in the study. Serum lipid levels, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), lipoprotein-α [Lp(a)], and apolipoprotein A1, B, and E (ApoA1, ApoB, and ApoE), and clinicopathological characteristics were collected before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The mean levels of TC, TG, and ApoB were significantly increased following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (16%, 38%, and 20%, respectively, vs. pretreatment values; P<0.01). The mean levels of LDL-C and ApoE were also 19% and 16% higher, respectively (P<0.05). No correlation was found between the pretreatment lipid profile and the histologic response to chemotherapy. An increase in Lp(a) was strongly correlated with the Ki-67 index (R=0.31, P=0.023). Moreover, a trend toward longer disease-free survival (DFS) was observed in patients with decreased TG and increased LDL-C following chemotherapy, although this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.23 and P=0.24, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Significant elevations in serum lipids were observed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with localized osteosarcoma. There was no prognostic significance of pretreatment serum lipid levels on histologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The scale of increase in serum Lp(a) might have a potential prognostic role in osteosarcoma. Patients with increased LDL-C or reduced TG after chemotherapy seem to exhibit a trend toward favorable DFS.

Association between pre-diagnostic circulating lipid metabolites and colorectal cancer risk: a nested case-control study in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)

BACKGROUND

Altered lipid metabolism is a hallmark of cancer development. However, the role of specific lipid metabolites in colorectal cancer development is uncertain.

METHODS

In a case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), we examined associations between pre-diagnostic circulating concentrations of 97 lipid metabolites (acylcarnitines, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids) and colorectal cancer risk. Circulating lipids were measured using targeted mass spectrometry in 1591 incident colorectal cancer cases (55% women) and 1591 matched controls. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between concentrations of individual lipid metabolites and metabolite patterns with colorectal cancer risk.

FINDINGS

Of the 97 assayed lipids, 24 were inversely associated (nominally p < 0.05) with colorectal cancer risk. Hydroxysphingomyelin (SM (OH)) C22:2 (ORper doubling 0.60, 95% CI 0.47-0.77) and acylakyl-phosphatidylcholine (PC ae) C34:3 (ORper doubling 0.71, 95% CI 0.59-0.87) remained associated after multiple comparisons correction. These associations were unaltered after excluding the first 5 years of follow-up after blood collection and were consistent according to sex, age at diagnosis, BMI, and colorectal subsite. Two lipid patterns, one including 26 phosphatidylcholines and all sphingolipids, and another 30 phosphatidylcholines, were weakly inversely associated with colorectal cancer.

INTERPRETATION

Elevated pre-diagnostic circulating levels of SM (OH) C22:2 and PC ae C34:3 and lipid patterns including phosphatidylcholines and sphingolipids were associated with lower colorectal cancer risk. This study may provide insight into potential links between specific lipids and colorectal cancer development. Additional prospective studies are needed to validate the observed associations.

FUNDING

World Cancer Research Fund (reference: 2013/1002); European Commission (FP7: BBMRI-LPC; reference: 313010).

PCPro: a clinically accessible, circulating lipid biomarker signature for poor-prognosis metastatic prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Using comprehensive plasma lipidomic profiling from men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), we have previously identified a poor-prognostic lipid profile associated with shorter overall survival (OS). In order to translate this biomarker into the clinic, these men must be identifiable via a clinically accessible, regulatory-compliant assay.

METHODS

A single regulatory-compliant liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay of candidate lipids was developed and tested on a mCRPC Discovery cohort of 105 men. Various risk-score Cox regression prognostic models of OS were built using the Discovery cohort. The model with the highest concordance index (PCPro) was chosen for validation and tested on an independent Validation cohort of 183 men.

RESULTS

PCPro, the lipid biomarker, contains Cer(d18:1/18:0), Cer(d18:1/24:0), Cer(d18:1/24:1), triglycerides and total cholesterol. Within the Discovery and Validation cohorts, men who were PCPro positive had significantly shorter OS compared to those who were PCPro negative (Discovery: median OS 12.0 months vs 24.2 months, hazard ratio (HR) 3.75 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.29-6.15], p < 0.001, Validation: median OS 13.0 months vs 25.7 months, HR = 2.13 [95% CI 1.46-3.12], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed PCPro, a lipid biomarker assay capable of prospectively identifying men with mCRPC with a poor prognosis. Prospective clinical trials are required to determine if men who are PCPro positive will benefit from therapeutic agents targeting lipid metabolism.

Prostate Cancer and the Mevalonate Pathway

Antineoplastic therapies for prostate cancer (PCa) have traditionally centered around the androgen receptor (AR) pathway, which has demonstrated a significant role in oncogenesis. Nevertheless, it is becoming progressively apparent that therapeutic strategies must diversify their focus due to the emergence of resistance mechanisms that the tumor employs when subjected to monomolecular treatments. This review illustrates how the dysregulation of the lipid metabolic pathway constitutes a survival strategy adopted by tumors to evade eradication efforts. Integrating this aspect into oncological management could prove valuable in combating PCa.

The Effect of Silencing Fatty Acid Elongase 4 and 6 Genes on the Proliferation and Migration of Colorectal Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells show some alterations in lipid metabolism, including an increased fatty acid elongation. This study was focused on investigating the effect of a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated decrease in fatty acid elongation on CRC cells' survival and migration. In our study, the elongase 4 (ELOVL4) and elongase 6 (ELOVL6) genes were observed to be highly overexpressed in both the CRC tissue obtained from patients and the CRC cells cultured in vitro (HT-29 and WiDr cell lines). The use of the siRNAs for ELOVL4 and ELOVL6 reduced cancer cell proliferation and migration rates. These findings indicate that the altered elongation process decreased the survival of CRC cells, and in the future, fatty acid elongases can be potentially good targets in novel CRC therapy.

Rectal Cancer Tissue Lipidome Differs According to Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy

Rectal cancer (RC) is a gastrointestinal cancer with a poor prognosis. While some studies have shown metabolic reprogramming to be linked to RC development, it is difficult to define biomolecules, like lipids, that help to understand cancer progression and response to therapy. The present study investigated the relative lipid abundance in tumoral tissue associated with neoadjuvant therapy response using untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry lipidomics. Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients (n = 13), clinically staged as T3-4 were biopsied before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). Tissue samples collected before nCRT (staging) and afterwards (restaging) were analyzed to discover lipidomic differences in RC cancerous tissue from Responders (n = 7) and Non-responders (n = 6) to nCRT. The limma method was used to test differences between groups and to select relevant feature lipids from tissue samples. Simple glycosphingolipids and differences in some residues of glycerophospholipids were more abundant in the Non-responder group before and after nCRT. Oxidized glycerophospholipids were more abundant in samples of Non-responders, especially those collected after nCRT. This work identified potential lipids in tissue samples that take part in, or may explain, nCRT failure. These results could potentially provide a lipid-based explanation for nCRT response and also help in understanding the molecular basis of RC and nCRT effects on the tissue matrix.

Serum fatty acid profiles in breast cancer patients following treatment

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is associated with alterations in lipid metabolism. The treatment of breast cancer can also affect serum lipid composition. The purpose of this study was the examination of serum fatty acids (FAs) profiles in breast cancer survivors to assess if the FA levels normalize.

METHODS

Serum levels of FAs were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in a group of breast cancer patients at baseline (before treatment, n = 28), at two follow-up visits at 12 months (n = 27) and 24 months (n = 19) after the breast cancer resection, and in the group of healthy controls (n = 25). Multivariate analysis was performed to assess how FA serum profile changes following treatment.

RESULTS

Breast cancer patients' serum FA profiles at follow-ups did not normalize to the levels of control group. The greatest differences were found for levels of branched-chain (BCFA), odd-chain (OCFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs) FAs, all of which were significantly increased 12 months after the surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

After treatment for breast cancer, the patients' serum FA profile differs from the profile before treatment and from controls, especially 12 months after treatment. Some changes may be beneficial - increased BCFA and OCFA levels, and improved n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. This may reflect lifestyle changes in breast cancer survivors and have an impact on the risk of recurrence.

Lipid Metabolic Reprogramming in Embryonal Neoplasms with MYCN Amplification

Tumor cells reprogram their metabolism, including glucose, glutamine, nucleotide, lipid, and amino acids to meet their enhanced energy demands, redox balance, and requirement of biosynthetic substrates for uncontrolled cell proliferation. Altered lipid metabolism in cancer provides lipids for rapid membrane biogenesis, generates the energy required for unrestricted cell proliferation, and some of the lipids act as signaling pathway mediators. In this review, we focus on the role of lipid metabolism in embryonal neoplasms with MYCN dysregulation. We specifically review lipid metabolic reactions in neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, medulloblastoma, Wilms tumor, and rhabdomyosarcoma and the possibility of targeting lipid metabolism. Additionally, the regulation of lipid metabolism by the MYCN oncogene is discussed.

Targeting lipid metabolism in metastatic prostate cancer

Despite key advances in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), a proportion of men have de novo resistance, and all will develop resistance to current therapeutics over time. Aberrant lipid metabolism has long been associated with prostate carcinogenesis and progression, but more recently there has been an explosion of preclinical and clinical data which is informing new clinical trials. This review explores the epidemiological links between obesity and metabolic syndrome and PCa, the evidence for altered circulating lipids in PCa and their potential role as biomarkers, as well as novel therapeutic strategies for targeting lipids in men with PCa, including therapies widely used in cardiovascular disease such as statins, metformin and lifestyle modification, as well as novel targeted agents such as sphingosine kinase inhibitors, DES1 inhibitors and agents targeting FASN and beta oxidation.

The Modulatory Effects of Fatty Acids on Cancer Progression

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the global cancer burden rises rapidly. The risk factors for cancer development can often be attributed to lifestyle factors, of which an unhealthy diet is a major contributor. Dietary fat is an important macronutrient and therefore a crucial part of a well-balanced and healthy diet, but it is still unclear which specific fatty acids contribute to a healthy and well-balanced diet in the context of cancer risk and prognosis. In this review, we describe epidemiological evidence on the associations between the intake of different classes of fatty acids and the risk of developing cancer, and we provide preclinical evidence on how specific fatty acids can act on tumor cells, thereby modulating tumor progression and metastasis. Moreover, the pro- and anti-inflammatory effects of each of the different groups of fatty acids will be discussed specifically in the context of inflammation-induced cancer progression and we will highlight challenges as well as opportunities for successful application of fatty acid tailored nutritional interventions in the clinic.

Rapid Detection of Recurrent Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer in Urine Using ATR-FTIR Technology

Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) accounts for 80% of all bladder cancers. Although it is mostly low-grade tumors, its high recurrence rate necessitates three-times-monthly follow-ups and cystoscopy examinations to detect and prevent its progression. A rapid liquid biopsy-based assay is needed to improve detection and reduce complications from invasive cystoscopy. Here, we present a rapid spectroscopic method to detect the recurrence of NMIBC in urine. Urine samples from previously-diagnosed NMIBC patients (n = 62) were collected during their follow-up visits before cystoscopy examination. Cystoscopy results were recorded (41 cancer-free and 21 recurrence) and attenuated total refraction Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra were acquired from urine samples using direct application. Spectral processing and normalization were optimized using parameter grid searching. We assessed their technical variability through multivariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). We assessed 35 machine learning models on a training set (70%), and the performance was evaluated on a held-out test set (30%). A Regularized Random Forests (RRF) model achieved a 0.92 area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) with 86% sensitivity and 77% specificity. In conclusion, our spectroscopic liquid biopsy approach provides a promising technique for the early identification of NMIBC with a less invasive examination.

Preliminary Analysis of the Glycolipid Profile in Secondary Brain Tumors

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play numerous roles in cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and cell signaling. Alteration of the GSLs metabolism leads to the accumulation of particular species of GSLs, which can lead to various pathologies, including carcinogenesis and metastasis; in essence, all neoplasms are characterized by the synthesis and aberrant organization of GSLs expressed on the cell surface. Secondary brain tumors make up the majority of intracranial cancers and generally present an unfavorable prognosis. In the present work, a native GSL mixture extracted and purified from a secondary brain tumor with primary pulmonary origin was obtained through extraction and purification and analyzed by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. Research in the field of lipidomics could offer new data for the understanding of brain tropism and metastatic pathways, by studying the glycolipid molecules involved in the process of metastasis in general and in the production of brain metastases in particular. This could shed new light on the pattern of lipid glycosylation in secondary brain tumors, with a great impact on the effectiveness of cancer therapies, which could be adapted to the specific molecular pattern of the tumor.

Rapid Assessment of Lipidomics Sample Purity and Quantity Using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Despite the increasing popularity of liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based lipidomics, there is a lack of accepted and validated methods for lipid extract quality and quantity assessment prior to LC-MS. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) has been reported for quantification of pure lipids. However, the impact of complex lipid sample complexity and purity on total lipid quantification accuracy has not been investigated. Here, we report comprehensive assessment of the sample matrix on the accuracy of lipid quantification using Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR)-FTIR and establish a simple workflow for lipidomics sample quantification. We show that both pure and complex lipids show characteristic FTIR vibrations of CH- and C=O-stretching vibrations, with a quantitative range of 40−3000 ng and a limit of detection of 12 ng, but sample extraction method and local baseline subtraction during FTIR spectral processing significantly impact lipid quantification via CH stretching. To facilitate sample quality screening, we developed the Lipid Quality (LiQ) score from a spectral library of common contaminants, using a ratio of peak heights between CH stretching vibrations maxima and the collective vibrations from amide/amine, CH-stretching minima and sugar moieties. Taking all tested parameters together, we propose a rapid FTIR workflow for routine lipidomics sample quality and quantity assessment and tested this workflow by comparing to the total LC-MS intensity of targeted lipidomics of 107 human plasma lipid extracts. Exclusion of poor-quality samples based on LiQ score improved the correlation between FTIR and LC-MS quantification. The uncertainty of absolute quantification by FTIR was estimated using a 795 ng SPLASH LipidoMix standard to be <10%. With low sample requirement, we anticipate this simple and rapid method will enhance lipidomics workflow by enabling accurate total lipid quantification and normalization of lipid quantity for MS analysis.

Therapeutic potential of NR4A1 in cancer: Focus on metabolism

Metabolic reprogramming is a vital hallmark of cancer, and it provides the necessary energy and biological materials to support the continuous proliferation and survival of tumor cells. NR4A1 is belonging to nuclear subfamily 4 (NR4A) receptors. NR4A1 plays diverse roles in many tumors, including melanoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and hepatocellular cancer, to regulate cell growth, apoptosis, metastasis. Recent reports shown that NR4A1 exhibits unique metabolic regulating effects in cancers. This receptor was first found to mediate glycolysis via key enzymes glucose transporters (GLUTs), hexokinase 2 (HK2), fructose phosphate kinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK). Then its functions extended to fatty acid synthesis by modulating CD36, fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), glutamine by Myc, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and hypoxia-inducible factors alpha (HIF-1α), respectively. In addition, NR4A1 is involving in amino acid metabolism and tumor immunity by metabolic processes. More and more NR4A1 ligands are found to participate in tumor metabolic reprogramming, suggesting that regulating NR4A1 by novel ligands is a promising approach to alter metabolism signaling pathways in cancer therapy. Basic on this, this review highlighted the diverse metabolic roles of NR4A1 in cancers, which provides vital references for the clinical application.

Reprogrammed Lipid Metabolism and the Lipid-Associated Hallmarks of Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-most diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Limitations in early and accurate diagnosis of CRC gives rise to poor patient survival. Advancements in analytical techniques have improved our understanding of the cellular and metabolic changes occurring in CRC and potentiate avenues for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Lipids are metabolites with important biological functions; however, their role in CRC is poorly understood. Here, we provide an in-depth review of the recent literature concerning lipid alterations in CRC and propose eight lipid metabolism-associated hallmarks of CRC.

Abstract

Lipids have diverse structures, with multifarious regulatory functions in membrane homeostasis and bioenergetic metabolism, in mediating functional protein–lipid and protein–protein interactions, as in cell signalling and proliferation. An increasing body of evidence supports the notion that aberrant lipid metabolism involving remodelling of cellular membrane structure and changes in energy homeostasis and signalling within cancer-associated pathways play a pivotal role in the onset, progression, and maintenance of colorectal cancer (CRC) and their tumorigenic properties. Recent advances in analytical lipidome analysis technologies have enabled the comprehensive identification and structural characterization of lipids and, consequently, our understanding of the role they play in tumour progression. However, despite progress in our understanding of cancer cell metabolism and lipidomics, the key lipid-associated changes in CRC have yet not been explicitly associated with the well-established ‘hallmarks of cancer’ defined by Hanahan and Weinberg. In this review, we summarize recent findings that highlight the role of reprogrammed lipid metabolism in CRC and use this growing body of evidence to propose eight lipid metabolism-associated hallmarks of colorectal cancer, and to emphasize their importance and linkages to the established cancer hallmarks.

BATF3 Protects Against Metabolic Syndrome and Maintains Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis

The intestinal immune system and microbiota are emerging as important contributors to the development of metabolic syndrome, but the role of intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) in this context is incompletely understood. BATF3 is a transcription factor essential in the development of mucosal conventional DCs type 1 (cDC1). We show that Batf3-/- mice developed metabolic syndrome and have altered localization of tight junction proteins in intestinal epithelial cells leading to increased intestinal permeability. Treatment with the glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose reduced intestinal inflammation and restored barrier function in obese Batf3-/- mice. High-fat diet further enhanced the metabolic phenotype and susceptibility to dextran sulfate sodium colitis in Batf3-/- mice. Antibiotic treatment of Batf3-/- mice prevented metabolic syndrome and impaired intestinal barrier function. Batf3-/- mice have altered IgA-coating of fecal bacteria and displayed microbial dysbiosis marked by decreased obesity protective Akkermansia muciniphila, and Bifidobacterium. Thus, BATF3 protects against metabolic syndrome and preserves intestinal epithelial barrier by maintaining beneficial microbiota.

AUP1 regulates lipid metabolism and induces lipid accumulation to accelerate the progression of renal clear cell carcinoma

Lipid metabolic reprogramming is a prominent feature of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Lipid accumulation affects cellular energy homeostasis, biofilm synthesis, lipid signal transduction, and phenotypic transformation in ccRCC. Herein, a prognostic‐related model was constructed, and the prognostic utility of AUP1, a lipid droplet–regulating very low–density lipoprotein assembly factor, in ccRCC was determined through multiparameter analysis. AUP1 expression was significantly higher in clinical samples than in normal tissues and was closely associated with the clinical stage. The inhibition of AUP1 expression impaired the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ACHN and A498 ccRCC cells in vitro and in vivo. RNA‐seq analysis revealed that AUP1 inhibition can significantly reduce the contents of intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol and regulate cell growth by cell cycle arrest, promoting apoptosis and reversing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. AUP1 regulated the synthesis of cholesterol esters and fatty acids (FAs) in ccRCC cells by targeting sterol O‐acyltransferase 1 and partially promoted the progression of ccRCC. AUP1 also induced lipid accumulation in ccRCC by promoting the de novo synthesis of FAs (inhibiting protein kinase AMP‐activated catalytic subunit alpha 2), inhibiting the rate‐limiting enzyme of FA β oxidation (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A), regulating the key enzyme of lipolysis (monoglyceride lipase, MGLL), and inhibiting the lipid transporter StAR‐related lipid transfer domain containing 5 (STARD5). However, it did not affect the intracellular cholesterol synthesis pathway. The differential expression and prognostic significance of MGLL and STARD5 in ccRCC should be further studied. AUP1 may serve as a new and effective potential target and prognostic marker for ccRCC.

Lipid Metabolism and Cancer

Lipid metabolism is involved in the regulation of numerous cellular processes, such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, survival, apoptosis, inflammation, movement, membrane homeostasis, chemotherapy response, and drug resistance. Reprogramming of lipid metabolism is a typical feature of malignant tumors. In a variety of cancers, fat uptake, storage and fat production are up-regulated, which in turn promotes the rapid growth, invasion, and migration of tumors. This paper systematically summarizes the key signal transduction pathways and molecules of lipid metabolism regulating tumors, and the role of lipid metabolism in programmed cell death. In conclusion, understanding the potential molecular mechanism of lipid metabolism and the functions of different lipid molecules may facilitate elucidating the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of cancer in order to discover new potential targets for the development of effective antitumor drugs.

Elevation of fatty acid desaturase 2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma increases polyunsaturated lipids and may exacerbate bile acid-induced DNA damage

Background

The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is associated with gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obesity. Lipid metabolism‐targeted therapies decrease the risk of progressing from Barrett's esophagus (BE) to EAC, but the precise lipid metabolic changes and their roles in genotoxicity during EAC development are yet to be established.

Methods

Esophageal biopsies from the normal epithelium (NE), BE, and EAC, were analyzed using concurrent lipidomics and proteomics (n = 30) followed by orthogonal validation on independent samples using RNAseq transcriptomics (n = 22) and immunohistochemistry (IHC, n = 80). The EAC cell line FLO‐1 was treated with FADS2 selective inhibitor SC26196, and/or bile acid cocktail, followed by immunofluorescence staining for γH2AX.

Results

Metabolism‐focused Reactome analysis of the proteomics data revealed enrichment of fatty acid metabolism, ketone body metabolism, and biosynthesis of specialized pro‐resolving mediators in EAC pathogenesis. Lipidomics revealed progressive alterations (NE‐BE‐EAC) in glycerophospholipid synthesis with decreasing triglycerides and increasing phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingolipid synthesis with decreasing dihydroceramide and increasing ceramides. Furthermore, a progressive increase in lipids with C20 fatty acids and polyunsaturated lipids with ≥4 double bonds were also observed. Integration with transcriptome data identified candidate enzymes for IHC validation: Δ4‐Desaturase, Sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1) which desaturates dihydroceramide to ceramide, and Δ5 and Δ6‐Desaturases (fatty acid desaturases, FADS1 and FADS2), responsible for polyunsaturation. All three enzymes showed significant increases from BE through dysplasia to EAC, but transcript levels of DEGS1 were decreased suggesting post‐translational regulation. Finally, the FADS2 selective inhibitor SC26196 significantly reduced polyunsaturated lipids with three and four double bonds and reduced bile acid‐induced DNA double‐strand breaks in FLO‐1 cells in vitro.

Conclusions

Integrated multiomics revealed sphingolipid and phospholipid metabolism rewiring during EAC development. FADS2 inhibition and reduction of the high polyunsaturated lipids effectively protected EAC cells from bile acid‐induced DNA damage in vitro, potentially through reduced lipid peroxidation.

Phosphatidylcholine-Derived Lipid Mediators: The Crosstalk Between Cancer Cells and Immune Cells

To become resistant, cancer cells need to activate and maintain molecular defense mechanisms that depend on an energy trade-off between resistance and essential functions. Metabolic reprogramming has been shown to fuel cell growth and contribute to cancer drug resistance. Recently, changes in lipid metabolism have emerged as an important driver of resistance to anticancer agents. In this review, we highlight the role of choline metabolism with a focus on the phosphatidylcholine cycle in the regulation of resistance to therapy. We analyze the contribution of phosphatidylcholine and its metabolites to intracellular processes of cancer cells, both as the major cell membrane constituents and source of energy. We further extended our discussion about the role of phosphatidylcholine-derived lipid mediators in cellular communication between cancer and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, as well as their pivotal role in the immune regulation of therapeutic failure. Changes in phosphatidylcholine metabolism are part of an adaptive program activated in response to stress conditions that contribute to cancer therapy resistance and open therapeutic opportunities for treating drug-resistant cancers.

Lipid Metabolism Interplay in CRC—An Update

Colorectal cancer (CRC) to date still ranks as one of the deadliest cancer entities globally, and despite recent advances, the incidence in young adolescents is dramatically increasing. Lipid metabolism has recently received increased attention as a crucial element for multiple aspects of carcinogenesis and our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is steadily growing. However, the mechanism how fatty acid metabolism contributes to CRC is still not understood in detail. In this review, we aim to summarize our vastly growing comprehension and the accompanied complexity of cellular fatty acid metabolism in CRC by describing inputs and outputs of intracellular free fatty acid pools and how these contribute to cancer initiation, disease progression and metastasis. We highlight how different lipid pathways can contribute to the aggressiveness of tumors and affect the prognosis of patients. Furthermore, we focus on the role of lipid metabolism in cell communication and interplay within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and beyond. Understanding these interactions in depth might lead to the discovery of novel markers and new therapeutic interventions for CRC. Finally, we discuss the crucial role of fatty acid metabolism as new targetable gatekeeper in colorectal cancer.

Untargeted Metabolomics Identify a Panel of Urinary Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder, as Compared to Urolithiasis with or without Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs

Urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common urologic cancer in dogs, is often diagnosed late because the clinical signs are shared by other non-malignant lower urinary tract disorders (LUTD). The urine-based BRAFV595E test for UC is highly effective only in certain breeds; hence additional non-invasive biomarkers of UC are needed. Here, urine from dogs with UC (n = 27), urolithiasis (n = 8), or urolithiasis with urinary tract infection (UTI) (n = 8) were subjected to untargeted metabolomics analyses, using GC-TOF-MS for primary metabolites, QTOF-MS for complex lipids, and HILIC-QTOF MS for secondary and charged metabolites. After adjusting for age and sex, we identified 1123 known metabolites that were differentially expressed between UC and LUTD. Twenty-seven metabolites were significant (1.5 ≤ log2FC ≤ −1.5, adjusted p-value < 0.05); however, 10 of these could be attributed to treatment-related changes. Of the remaining 17, 6 (hippuric acid, N-Acetylphenylalanine, sarcosine, octanoylcarnitine, N-alpha-methylhistamine, glycerol-3-galactoside) discriminated between UC and LUTD (area under the ROC curve > 0.85). Of the 6 metabolites, only hippuric acid and N-alpha-methylhistamine were discriminatory in both male (n = 20) and female (n = 23) dogs, while sarcosine was an effective discriminator in several breeds, but only in females. Further investigation of these metabolites is warranted for potential use as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of dogs with UC that present with LUTD-related clinical signs.

Omics Technologies for High-Throughput-Screening of Cell-Biomaterial Interactions

Recent research effort in biomaterial development has largely focused on engineering bio-instructive materials to stimulate specific cell signaling. Assessing the biological performance of these materials using time-consuming and trial-and-error traditional...

Obesity and gynecological cancers: A toxic relationship

Despite the evidence supporting the relevance of obesity and obesity‐associated disorders in the development, management, and prognosis of various cancers, obesity rates continue to increase worldwide. Growing evidence supports the involvement of obesity in the development of gynecologic malignancies. This article explores the molecular basis governing the alteration of hallmarks of cancer in the development of obesity‐related gynecologic malignancies encompassing cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. We highlight specific examples of how development, management, and prognosis are affected for each cancer, incorporate current knowledge on complementary approaches including lifestyle interventions to improve patient outcomes, and highlight how new technologies are helping us better understand the biology underlying this neglected pandemic.

This review focuses on how obesity impacts cancer hallmarks in gynecologic malignancies, thus affecting the diagnosis, management, treatment, and prognosis of these diseases.

Caveolin-1-driven membrane remodelling regulates hnRNPK-mediated exosomal microRNA sorting in cancer

BACKGROUND

Caveolae proteins play diverse roles in cancer development and progression. In prostate cancer, non-caveolar caveolin-1 (CAV1) promotes metastasis, while CAVIN1 attenuates CAV1-induced metastasis. Here, we unveil a novel mechanism linking CAV1 to selective loading of exosomes with metastasis-promoting microRNAs.

RESULTS

We identify hnRNPK as a CAV1-regulated microRNA binding protein. In the absence of CAVIN1, non-caveolar CAV1 drives localisation of hnRPNK to multi-vesicular bodies (MVBs), recruiting AsUGnA motif-containing miRNAs and causing their release within exosomes. This process is dependent on the lipid environment of membranes as shown by cholesterol depletion using methyl-β-cyclodextrin or by treatment with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Consistent with a role in bone metastasis, knockdown of hnRNPK in prostate cancer PC3 cells abolished the ability of PC3 extracellular vesicles (EV) to induce osteoclastogenesis, and biofluid EV hnRNPK is elevated in metastatic prostate and colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results support a novel pan-cancer mechanism for CAV1-driven exosomal release of hnRNPK and associated miRNA in metastasis, which is modulated by the membrane lipid environment.

Changes in Serum, Red Blood Cell, and Colonic Fatty Acids in a Personalized Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation Trial

This study evaluated changes in fatty acids from sera, red blood cells, and colonic biopsies from a phase Ib clinical trial of personalized ω-3 fatty acid dosing in 47 healthy volunteers. The trial aimed to reduce colonic prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), a pro-inflammatory product of arachidonic acid (AA) oxidation. The personalized doses ranged 2-10 grams/day (54% eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA, 24% other ω-3 fatty acids). In colon, increases in ω-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and EPA:AA ratios each were correlated with decreases in PGE₂. Changes in either colonic EPA:AA ratios or ω-3 HUFA were significantly correlated with changes in the same fatty acid measures in red blood cells or serum. The only blood-based measure significantly correlated with changes in colonic PGE₂ was change in red blood cell ω-3 HUFA (ρ = -0.39), and the increase in red blood cell ω-3 HUFA was significantly greater in participants who had at least a median reduction in colonic PGE₂ vs. those who did not. In summary, fatty acid changes in blood did reflect fatty acid changes in the colon, but additional factors will be needed for optimizing dosing models that seek to predict the anti-inflammatory effects of ω-3 fatty acids on the colon.

The diversity and breadth of cancer cell fatty acid metabolism

Tumor cellular metabolism exhibits distinguishing features that collectively enhance biomass synthesis while maintaining redox balance and cellular homeostasis. These attributes reflect the complex interactions between cell-intrinsic factors such as genomic-transcriptomic regulation and cell-extrinsic influences, including growth factor and nutrient availability. Alongside glucose and amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism supports tumorigenesis and disease progression through a range of processes including membrane biosynthesis, energy storage and production, and generation of signaling intermediates. Here, we highlight the complexity of cellular fatty acid metabolism in cancer, the various inputs and outputs of the intracellular free fatty acid pool, and the numerous ways that these pathways influence disease behavior.

Chronic High-Fat Diet Induces Early Barrett's Esophagus in Mice through Lipidome Remodeling

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) incidence has been rapidly increasing, potentially associated with the prevalence of the risk factors gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity, high-fat diet (HFD), and the precursor condition Barrett’s esophagus (BE). EAC development occurs over several years, with stepwise changes of the squamous esophageal epithelium, through cardiac metaplasia, to BE, and then EAC. To establish the roles of GERD and HFD in initiating BE, we developed a dietary intervention model in C57/BL6 mice using experimental HFD and GERD (0.2% deoxycholic acid, DCA, in drinking water), and then analyzed the gastroesophageal junction tissue lipidome and microbiome to reveal potential mechanisms. Chronic (9 months) HFD alone induced esophageal inflammation and metaplasia, the first steps in BE/EAC pathogenesis. While 0.2% deoxycholic acid (DCA) alone had no effect on esophageal morphology, it synergized with HFD to increase inflammation severity and metaplasia length, potentially via increased microbiome diversity. Furthermore, we identify a tissue lipid signature for inflammation and metaplasia, which is characterized by elevated very-long-chain ceramides and reduced lysophospholipids. In summary, we report a non-transgenic mouse model, and a tissue lipid signature for early BE. Validation of the lipid signature in human patient cohorts could pave the way for specific dietary strategies to reduce the risk of BE in high-risk individuals.