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Binienda A, Fichna J. Current understanding of free fatty acids and their receptors in colorectal cancer treatment. Nutr Res 2024; 127:133-143. [PMID: 38943731 DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Currently, dietary factors are being emphasized in the pathogenesis of CRC. There is strong evidence that fatty acids (FAs) and free FA receptors (FFARs) are involved in CRC. This comprehensive review discusses the role of FAs and their receptors in CRC pathophysiology, development, and treatment. In particular, butyrate and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been found to exert anticancer properties by, among others, inhibiting proliferation and metastasis and inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. Consequently, they are used in conjunction with conventional therapies. Furthermore, FFAR gene expression is down-regulated in CRC, suggesting their suppressive character. Recent studies showed that the FFAR4 agonist, GW9508, can inhibit tumor growth. In conclusion, natural as well as synthetic FFAR ligands are considered promising candidates for CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Binienda
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jakub Fichna
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
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2
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Yang J, Shay C, Saba NF, Teng Y. Cancer metabolism and carcinogenesis. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:10. [PMID: 38287402 PMCID: PMC10826200 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00482-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is an emerging hallmark of cancer cells, enabling them to meet increased nutrient and energy demands while withstanding the challenging microenvironment. Cancer cells can switch their metabolic pathways, allowing them to adapt to different microenvironments and therapeutic interventions. This refers to metabolic heterogeneity, in which different cell populations use different metabolic pathways to sustain their survival and proliferation and impact their response to conventional cancer therapies. Thus, targeting cancer metabolic heterogeneity represents an innovative therapeutic avenue with the potential to overcome treatment resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes. This review discusses the metabolic patterns of different cancer cell populations and developmental stages, summarizes the molecular mechanisms involved in the intricate interactions within cancer metabolism, and highlights the clinical potential of targeting metabolic vulnerabilities as a promising therapeutic regimen. We aim to unravel the complex of metabolic characteristics and develop personalized treatment approaches to address distinct metabolic traits, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiang Yang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Chloe Shay
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Nabil F Saba
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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3
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Czumaj A, Kobiela J, Mika A, Pappou E, Śledziński T. The Effect of Silencing Fatty Acid Elongase 4 and 6 Genes on the Proliferation and Migration of Colorectal Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17615. [PMID: 38139442 PMCID: PMC10743756 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Czumaj
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (A.M.); (T.Ś.)
| | - Jarosław Kobiela
- Department of General, Endocrine and Transplant Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland;
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Adriana Mika
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (A.M.); (T.Ś.)
| | - Emmanouil Pappou
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Tomasz Śledziński
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (A.M.); (T.Ś.)
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Grigoraș A, Amalinei C. Multi-Faceted Role of Cancer-Associated Adipocytes in Colorectal Cancer. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2401. [PMID: 37760840 PMCID: PMC10525260 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer, especially in obese patients, and the second cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Based on these data, extensive research has been performed over the last decades to decipher the pivotal role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its cellular and molecular components in CRC development and progression. In this regard, substantial progress has been made in the identification of cancer-associated adipocytes' (CAAs) characteristics, considering their active role in the CCR tumor niche, by releasing a panel of metabolites, growth factors, and inflammatory adipokines, which assist the cancer cells' development. Disposed in the tumor invasion front, CAAs exhibit a fibroblastic-like phenotype and establish a bidirectional molecular dialogue with colorectal tumor cells, which leads to functional changes in both cell types and contributes to tumor progression. CAAs also modulate the antitumor immune cells' response and promote metabolic reprogramming and chemotherapeutic resistance in colon cancer cells. This review aims to report recent cumulative data regarding the molecular mechanisms of CAAs' differentiation and their activity spectrum in the TME of CRC. A better understanding of CAAs and the molecular interplay between CAAs and tumor cells will provide insights into tumor biology and may open the perspective of new therapeutic opportunities in CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Grigoraș
- Department of Morphofunctional Sciences I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Histopathology, Institute of Legal Medicine, 700455 Iasi, Romania
| | - Cornelia Amalinei
- Department of Morphofunctional Sciences I, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Department of Histopathology, Institute of Legal Medicine, 700455 Iasi, Romania
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5
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Kim Y, Shin SY, Jeung J, Kim Y, Kang YW, Lee S, Oh CM. Integrative analysis of mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming in early-stage colon and liver cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1218735. [PMID: 37692839 PMCID: PMC10484220 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1218735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal malignancies, including colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), remain leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of these cancers and identify potential therapeutic targets, we analyzed publicly accessible Cancer Genome Atlas datasets of COAD and LIHC. Our analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during early tumorigenesis were associated with cell cycle regulation. Additionally, genes related to lipid metabolism were significantly enriched in both COAD and LIHC, suggesting a crucial role for dysregulated lipid metabolism in their development and progression. We also identified a subset of DEGs associated with mitochondrial function and structure, including upregulated genes involved in mitochondrial protein import and respiratory complex assembly. Further, we identified mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGCS2) as a crucial regulator of cancer cell metabolism. Using a genome-scale metabolic model, we demonstrated that HMGCS2 suppression increased glycolysis, lipid biosynthesis, and elongation while decreasing fatty acid oxidation in colon cancer cells. Our study highlights the potential contribution of dysregulated lipid metabolism, including ketogenesis, to COAD and LIHC development and progression and identifies potential therapeutic targets for these malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeongmin Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Yeon Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihun Jeung
- Department of School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yumin Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Won Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunjae Lee
- Department of School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Myung Oh
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Yao Q, Zhang X, Wei C, Chen H, Xu Q, Chen J, Chen D. Prognostic prediction and immunotherapy response analysis of the fatty acid metabolism-related genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17224. [PMID: 37360096 PMCID: PMC10285252 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common urinary cancer. Although diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for ccRCC have been improved, the survival outcomes of patients with advanced ccRCC remain unsatisfactory. Fatty acid metabolism (FAM) has been increasingly recognized as a critical modulator of cancer development. However, the significance of the FAM in ccRCC remains unclear. Herein, we explored the function of a FAM-related risk score in the stratification and prediction of treatment responses in patients with ccRCC. Methods First, we applied an unsupervised clustering method to categorize patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) datasets into subtypes and retrieved FAM-related genes from the MSigDB database. We discern differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among different subtypes. Then, we applied univariate Cox regression analysis followed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) linear regression based on DEGs expression to establish a FAM-related risk score for ccRCC. Results We stratified the three ccRCC subtypes based on FAM-related genes with distinct overall survival (OS), clinical features, immune infiltration patterns, and treatment sensitivities. We screened nine genes from the FAM-related DEGs in the three subtypes to establish a risk prediction model for ccRCC. Nine FAM-related genes were differentially expressed in the ccRCC cell line ACHN compared to the normal kidney cell line HK2. High-risk patients had worse OS, higher genomic heterogeneity, a more complex tumor microenvironment (TME), and elevated expression of immune checkpoints. This phenomenon was validated in the ICGC cohort. Conclusion We constructed a FAM-related risk score that predicts the prognosis and therapeutic response of ccRCC. The close association between FAM and ccRCC progression lays a foundation for further exploring FAM-related functions in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinfan Yao
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Nephropathy, Zhejiang University, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urinary System Disease, China
| | - Xiuyuan Zhang
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Nephropathy, Zhejiang University, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urinary System Disease, China
| | - Chunchun Wei
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Nephropathy, Zhejiang University, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urinary System Disease, China
| | - Hongjun Chen
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Nephropathy, Zhejiang University, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urinary System Disease, China
| | - Qiannan Xu
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Nephropathy, Zhejiang University, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urinary System Disease, China
| | - Jianghua Chen
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Nephropathy, Zhejiang University, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urinary System Disease, China
| | - Dajin Chen
- Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, China
- Institute of Nephropathy, Zhejiang University, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urinary System Disease, China
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Kaufmann M, Iaboni N, Jamzad A, Hurlbut D, Ren KYM, Rudan JF, Mousavi P, Fichtinger G, Varma S, Caycedo-Marulanda A, Nicol CJB. Metabolically Active Zones Involving Fatty Acid Elongation Delineated by DESI-MSI Correlate with Pathological and Prognostic Features of Colorectal Cancer. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13040508. [PMID: 37110166 PMCID: PMC10141897 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Despite recent advances, five-year survival rates remain largely unchanged. Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI) is an emerging nondestructive metabolomics-based method that retains the spatial orientation of small-molecule profiles on tissue sections, which may be validated by ‘gold standard’ histopathology. In this study, CRC samples were analyzed by DESI from 10 patients undergoing surgery at Kingston Health Sciences Center. The spatial correlation of the mass spectral profiles was compared with histopathological annotations and prognostic biomarkers. Fresh frozen sections of representative colorectal cross sections and simulated endoscopic biopsy samples containing tumour and non-neoplastic mucosa for each patient were generated and analyzed by DESI in a blinded fashion. Sections were then hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stained, annotated by two independent pathologists, and analyzed. Using PCA/LDA-based models, DESI profiles of the cross sections and biopsies achieved 97% and 75% accuracies in identifying the presence of adenocarcinoma, using leave-one-patient-out cross validation. Among the m/z ratios exhibiting the greatest differential abundance in adenocarcinoma were a series of eight long-chain or very-long-chain fatty acids, consistent with molecular and targeted metabolomics indicators of de novo lipogenesis in CRC tissue. Sample stratification based on the presence of lympovascular invasion (LVI), a poor CRC prognostic indicator, revealed the abundance of oxidized phospholipids, suggestive of pro-apoptotic mechanisms, was increased in LVI-negative compared to LVI-positive patients. This study provides evidence of the potential clinical utility of spatially-resolved DESI profiles to enhance the information available to clinicians for CRC diagnosis and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kaufmann
- Department of Surgery, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston Health Sciences Center, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada
| | - Natasha Iaboni
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Amoon Jamzad
- School of Computing, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 2N8, Canada
| | - David Hurlbut
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Kevin Yi Mi Ren
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - John F. Rudan
- Department of Surgery, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada
| | - Parvin Mousavi
- School of Computing, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 2N8, Canada
| | - Gabor Fichtinger
- School of Computing, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 2N8, Canada
| | - Sonal Varma
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Antonio Caycedo-Marulanda
- Department of Surgery, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada
- Orlando Health Colon and Rectal Institute, Orlando, FL 32806, USA
| | - Christopher J. B. Nicol
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Queen’s Cancer Research Institute, Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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Li J, Xu X. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Combination Therapy for Colorectal Cancer: An Overview. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:1527-1540. [PMID: 37131870 PMCID: PMC10149070 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s408349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common diseases in the world. Tumor immunotherapy is an innovative cancer treatment that acts by activating the human body's autoimmune system. Immune checkpoint block has been shown to be effective in DNA deficient mismatch repair/microsatellite instability-high CRC. However, the therapeutic effect for proficient mismatch repair/microsatellite stability patients still requires further study and optimization. At present, the main CRC strategy is to combine other therapeutic methods, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy. Here, we review the current status and the latest progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of CRC. At the same time, we consider therapeutic opportunities for transforming cold to hot, as well as perspectives on possible future therapies, which may be in great demand for drug-resistant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shidong Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuanfu Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shidong Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Xuanfu Xu, Department of Gastroenterology, Shidong Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-021-25066666, Email
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