Acid ceramidase upregulation in prostate cancer: role in tumor development and implications for therapy

作者：Liu Xiang; Cheng Joseph C; Turner Lorianne S; Elojeimy Saeed; Beckham Thomas H; Bielawska Alicja; Keane Thomas E; Hannun Yusuf A; Norris James S^*

来源：Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 2009, 13(12): 1449-1458.

DOI：10.1517/14728220903357512

• acid ceramidase
• acid ceramidase inhibition
• ceramide
• novel target
• prostate cancer
• therapeutic resistance
• tumor progression

Bioactive sphingolipids, such as ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate are known bio-effector molecules which play important roles in various aspects of cancer biology including cell proliferation, growth arrest, apoptosis, metastasis, senescence and inflammation. Therefore, enzymes involved in ceramide metabolism are gaining recognition as being critical regulators of cancer cell growth and/or survival. We previously observed that the ceramide metabolizing enzyme, acid ceramidase (AC) is upregulated in tumor tissues. Studies have now concluded that this creates a dysfunctional ceramide pathway, which is responsible for tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. This suggests that development of small-molecule drugs that inhibit AC enzyme activity is a promising approach for improving standard cancer therapy and patient's clinical outcomes.

• 出版日期2009-12