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Sphingosine kinase 2 in cancer: A review of its expression, function, and inhibitor development

Yanqun Luo1, Haiping Xue2, Ying Gao3

  • 1Institute of Digestive Disease, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|February 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) plays a role in cancer, but its functions are not fully understood. This review details SphK2

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Lipidomics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cancer remains a significant global health challenge with unmet therapeutic needs.
  • Lipidomics research highlights the critical roles of lipid metabolism in cancer.
  • Sphingolipid metabolism, involving sphingosine kinase (SphK) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), is crucial for cellular functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the expression, distribution, and mechanisms of Sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) in various cancers.
  • To explore the current advancements in SphK2 inhibitor research for potential cancer therapies.
  • To elucidate the multifaceted roles of SphK2 in oncogenesis, providing insights for future oncology research and therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of existing literature on SphK2 expression and function in cancer.
  • Review of studies detailing the molecular mechanisms of SphK2 in carcinogenesis.
  • Survey of recent developments in the design and evaluation of SphK2 inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • SphK2 is expressed in a wide range of human cancers, suggesting a broad role in tumorigenesis.
  • The precise oncogenic functions of SphK2 are complex and context-dependent, differing from its isoform SphK1.
  • Emerging SphK2 inhibitors show promise, but their clinical efficacy requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • SphK2 is an important, yet understudied, player in cancer development and progression.
  • Further research into SphK2's specific roles and targeted inhibition is warranted for novel cancer treatment strategies.
  • Understanding SphK2's contribution to oncogenesis may unlock new therapeutic avenues in oncology.
Keywords:
Sphingosine kinase 2Sphingosine-1-phosphatecancer

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