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The multifaceted functions of sirtuins in cancer

Angeliki Chalkiadaki1, Leonard Guarente1,2

  • 1Department of Biology, The Paul F. Glenn Center for the Science of Aging, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Bldg 68-280 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.

Nature Reviews. Cancer
|September 19, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are enzymes impacting aging and diseases. This review explores their role in cancer, focusing on metabolism, DNA repair, and the tumor microenvironment for potential therapeutic strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Sirtuins (SIRTs) are NAD(+)-dependent enzymes regulating cellular pathways and aging.
  • Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of SIRTs in cancer biology.
  • SIRTs influence key cancer processes including metabolism, chromatin regulation, and genomic stability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding sirtuin functions in cancer.
  • To explore the impact of sirtuins on cancer metabolism, DNA repair, and the tumor microenvironment.
  • To discuss the potential of modulating sirtuin activity for cancer prevention and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific articles on sirtuins and cancer.
  • Synthesis of findings on sirtuin roles in cancer metabolism.
  • Analysis of sirtuin involvement in DNA repair mechanisms within tumors.
  • Examination of sirtuin influence on the tumor microenvironment.

Main Results:

  • Sirtuins significantly affect cancer cell metabolism.
  • Sirtuins play a role in DNA repair processes relevant to cancer.
  • Sirtuin activity impacts the tumor microenvironment.
  • Modulating sirtuins presents potential therapeutic avenues.

Conclusions:

  • Sirtuins are key regulators of fundamental cancer processes.
  • Targeting sirtuins offers promising strategies for cancer therapy.
  • Further research into sirtuin modulation is warranted for cancer treatment development.

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