Cholesterol and cancer: comparative biochemistry and selective toxicity.
There is abundant evidence in the literature for the existence of a difference between normal and neoplastic cells with regard to the regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis. More specifically, the loss of negative feedback control of this pathway seems to be a property of transformed cells. Herein we describe the relationship between cholesterol and cancer, and we describe a model which attempts to employ Adrien Albert's second principle of selectivity--that of comparative biochemistry--by exploiting the above mentioned difference in regulation.
Paola
F
F
Section of Cardiology, West Virginia University Hospital, Morgantown 26506.
D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism; D004764:Enterohepatic Circulation; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000502:physiology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000502:physiology*
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases