title: The emerging roles of liver X receptors and their ligands in cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver X receptors (LXRs) are nuclear receptors with well-known functions in cholesterol transport, fatty acid and glucose metabolism, and modulation of immune responses. Natural and synthetic ligands have been identified and are under development for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory conditions and diseases. There is mounting evidence pointing to functional roles for LXRs in a variety of malignancies and the potential therapeutic efficacy of their ligands.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes the discovery and characterization of LXRs and their ligands, surveys their effects and mechanisms of action in cell-based and animal models of cancer, and proposes the future direction of basic and translational studies of LXRs and their ligands in cancer research and therapeutics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting LXRs is a promising strategy for cancer treatment, particularly for those cancers which do not have effective treatment options. Key questions remain, however, regarding the specific mechanisms of action, effects on other target cells within the tumor microenvironment, and receptor status in patient populations. Moreover, LXR ligands optimized for disease-specific functions and cancer-related endpoints are currently not available. These issues represent both challenges and significant opportunities for future research and development efforts.
authors.affiliation: a 1 University of Houston, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, Department of Biology and Biochemistry , Houston, TX, USA clin23@central.uh.edu.
authors.forename: Chin-Yo
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: b 2 Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine , SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden knut.steffensen@ki.se.
authors.forename: Lise-Lotte
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Vedin
authors.affiliation: b 2 Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine , SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden knut.steffensen@ki.se.
authors.forename: Knut R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Steffensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008024:Ligands; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors
keywords: cancer; liver X receptor; nuclear receptor; oxysterol