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Clinical application of ceramide in cancer treatment

Kazuki Moro1, Masayuki Nagahashi2, Emmanuel Gabriel3

  • 1Division of Digestive and General Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan.

Breast Cancer (Tokyo, Japan)
|April 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Ceramides, key sphingolipids, regulate cancer cell fate and may overcome treatment resistance. Research highlights their potential as novel cancer therapeutics and diagnostic biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cancer treatment innovation is crucial due to incomplete understanding of progression and resistance mechanisms.
  • Sphingolipids, like ceramide, are bioactive mediators influencing cancer cell survival and death via the 'sphingolipid rheostat'.
  • Ceramide metabolism is central, with generation influenced by various stressors, including anti-cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of ceramide in cancer.
  • To explore ceramide's potential in overcoming drug resistance.
  • To highlight ceramide as a target for novel cancer treatments and diagnostics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of sphingolipid metabolism and cancer.
  • Analysis of ceramide's role in cancer cell death and survival pathways.
  • Investigation of ceramide's association with cancer phenotypes and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Elevated ceramide levels in breast cancer patients correlated with less aggressive phenotypes, indicating prognostic value.
  • Ceramide is implicated in regulating cancer cell fate through the sphingolipid rheostat.
  • Emerging evidence suggests ceramide's utility as a diagnostic biomarker and in nanoparticle-based drug delivery.

Conclusions:

  • Ceramide is a key molecule for understanding and overcoming cancer treatment resistance.
  • Ceramide holds significant promise as a novel therapeutic agent and diagnostic biomarker in oncology.
  • Further investigation into ceramide metabolism and function is warranted for developing innovative cancer strategies.
Keywords:
ApoptosisCancerCeramideDrug resistanceSphingosine-1-phosphate

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