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Emerging roles of dehydrogenase/reductase (DHRS) in cancer

Jun Huang1, Chenpeng Tang1, Xue Chen2

  • 1Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, PR China; Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Invasion, Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, PR China.

Chemistry and Physics of Lipids
|May 8, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The dehydrogenase/reductase (DHRS) family, part of the SDR superfamily, plays roles in metabolism and is increasingly linked to cancer progression. This review highlights known and emerging cancer-associated functions of DHRS members.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The dehydrogenase/reductase (DHRS) family is a significant part of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily.
  • DHRS proteins are crucial for metabolizing lipids, steroids, and retinol.
  • The DHRS family has over 12 members, with several implicated in cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of the DHRS family.
  • To highlight the known and emerging roles of DHRS members in cancer progression.
  • To consolidate current knowledge on DHRS family functions in tumorigenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review
  • Bioinformatic analysis (implied)
  • Functional annotation of DHRS members

Main Results:

  • Specific DHRS members (DHRS2, DHRS3/4/9/13, DHRS8/10/11, DHRS6) have characterized roles in lipid, retinoic acid, and steroid metabolism, and iron homeostasis, with links to cancer.
  • Emerging evidence suggests broader associations between other DHRS family members and cancer.
  • The diverse metabolic functions of DHRS proteins underscore their potential impact on cellular processes relevant to cancer.

Conclusions:

  • The DHRS family represents a critical group of enzymes with diverse metabolic functions.
  • Dysregulation of DHRS members is increasingly recognized as a factor in tumorigenesis and cancer progression.
  • Further research into the less-characterized DHRS members may reveal novel therapeutic targets for cancer.
Keywords:
CancerDHRSDehydrogenasesIntracellular iron HomeostasisReductases

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