Sphingolipids in colon cancer.
Colorectal cancer is one of the major causes of death in the western world. Despite increasing knowledge of the molecular signaling pathways implicated in colon cancer, therapeutic outcomes are still only moderately successful. Sphingolipids, a family of N-acyl linked lipids, have not only structural functions but are also implicated in important biological functions. Ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate are the most important bioactive lipids, and they regulate several key cellular functions. Accumulating evidence suggests that many cancers present alterations in sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes. The aim of this review is to discuss the emerging roles of sphingolipids, both endogenous and dietary, in colon cancer and the interaction of sphingolipids with WNT/β-catenin pathway, one of the most important signaling cascades that regulate development and homeostasis in intestine. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled New Frontiers in Sphingolipid Biology.
Department of Medicine and the Stony Brook Cancer Center, Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, 101 Nicolls Road, T15, 023, 11794, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Electronic address: Monica.Garcia-Barros@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Mónica
M
García-Barros
Department of Medicine and the Stony Brook Cancer Center, Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, 101 Nicolls Road, T15, 023, 11794, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Electronic address: Nicolas.Coant@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Nicolas
N
Coant
Department of Medicine and the Stony Brook Cancer Center, Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, 101 Nicolls Road, T15, 023, 11794, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Electronic address: Jean-Philip.Truman@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Jean-Philip
JP
Truman
VAMC Northport, 79 Middleville Road, Northport, NY, USA, Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Electronic address: Ashley.Snider@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Ashley J
AJ
Snider
Department of Medicine and the Stony Brook Cancer Center, Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, 101 Nicolls Road, T15, 023, 11794, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Electronic address: Yusuf.Hannun@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Yusuf A
YA
Hannun
D000818:Animals; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013107:Sphingolipids / Q000378:metabolism*
D013107:Sphingolipids
Ceramide; Colorectal cancer; Dietary; Sphingolipids; Sphingosine; Sphingosine-1-phosphate