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Research Project: Prevention of Obesity Related Metabolic Diseases by Bioactive Components of Food Processing Waste Byproducts and Mitigation of Food Allergies

Location: Healthy Processed Foods Research

Title: Cholesterol metabolism in tumor immunity: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities for cancer

Author
item GUO, XIAO-JIA - Northwestern Polytechnical University
item ZHU, BO-BO - Northwestern Polytechnical University
item LI, JING - Northwestern Polytechnical University
item GUO, PING - Northwestern Polytechnical University
item NIU, YIN-BO - Northwestern Polytechnical University
item SHI, JUN-LING - Northwestern Polytechnical University
item Yokoyama, Wallace
item HUANG, QING-SHENG - Northwestern Polytechnical University
item SHAO, DONG-YAN - Northwestern Polytechnical University

Submitted to: Biochemical Pharmacology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2025
Publication Date: 2/13/2025
Citation: Guo, X., Zhu, B., Li, J., Guo, P., Niu, Y., Shi, J., Yokoyama, W.H., Huang, Q., Shao, D. 2025. Cholesterol metabolism in tumor immunity: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities for cancer. Biochemical Pharmacology. 234. Article 116802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2025.116802.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2025.116802

Interpretive Summary: Cancer is a complex disease. Cell mutations are the cause but its growth and metabolism are affected by endogenous biochemicals. In this review article we focus on cholesterol and how it mediates tumor growth. In addition to cholesterol it's metabolites also mediate tumor metabolic activity and development. Because of cholesterol's importance to tumor growth and development, drugs that moderate cholesterol and it's metabolites and their biochemistry are also discussed.

Technical Abstract: The review thoroughly explores how cholesterol metabolism and sources (endogenous/exogenous) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to the interplay among tumor cells, immune suppressor cells, and immune effector cells, promoting cancer progression and immune evasion. It also delves into current insights on the influence of cholesterol metabolites and related drugs in regulating tumor development or immunotherapy. Finally, it presents an overview of recent advancements in clinical and preclinical trials investigating the efficacy of targeted cholesterol metabolism treatments and combination therapies in cancer management, while proposing potential future research directions in tumor immunity.