Acid ceramidase inhibition: a novel target for cancer therapy

作者:Liu Xiang; Elojeimy Saeed; Turner Lorianne S; Mahdy Ayman E M; Zeidan Youssef H; Bielawska Alicja; Bielawski Jacek; Dong Jian Yun; El Zawahry Ahmed M; Guo Gui wen; Hannun Yusuf A; Holman David H; Rubinchik Semyon; Szulc Zdzislaw; Keane Thomas E; Tavassoli Mahvash; Norris James S*
来源:Frontiers in Bioscience, 2008, 13: 2293-2298.
DOI:10.2741/2843

摘要

During the last decade, sphingolipid deregulation, namely the balance between the pro-apoptotic molecule ceramide and the anti-apoptotic sphingolipid sphingosine-1- phosphate, has emerged as an important factor in cancer pathology and resistance to therapy. Thus, our research has been focused on developing drugs that are able to restore normal sphingolipid balance, precisely through increasing the levels of ceramide and decreasing sphingosine-1-phosphate. Particularly, inhibition of the ceramide metabolizing enzyme acid ceramidase, whose overexpression in cancer cells has been implicated in resistance to treatment, is proving to be an efficient and promising strategy. In this review, we consider our recent work with acid ceramidase inhibitors, in combination with radiation or gene therapy as a sensitizer that enhance cancer therapy.

  • 出版日期2008-1-1