Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancers and Therapeutic Innovations

Dear Colleagues,

While the implication of cholesterol in the etiology of cancers is still a matter of debate, clear evidence that such a relationship exists came from molecular and animal studies. Importantly, several sterol metabolites were found to display tumor promoter properties, either when produced by the tumor microenvironment or by the tumor itself. Such metabolites include fatty acid esters of cholesterol, side chain oxysterols such as 22(R)-, 24(S)-, 25- or 27-hydroxycholesterol, and B-ring oxysterols such as 6-oxo-cholestan-3β,5α-diol.  In addition, metabolites with tumor suppressor properties, such as 5,6α-epoxy-cholesterol-3β-sulfate (5,6-ECS) or dendrogenin A, were also identified as showing an opposite implication of sterol metabolites in cancer and revealing the complex contribution of cholesterol metabolism in cancer. Indeed, the identification of metabolites, of their biosynthesis enzymes and their pharmacological targets revealed new targeted anticancer strategies to be explored.

Therefore, this Special Issue on cholesterol metabolism in cancer and therapeutic innovations will focus on strategies for improving cancer treatment efficacy in vitro or in vivo. Of particular interest will be manuscripts revealing the contribution of cholesterol metabolism dysregulation in oncogenesis. Manuscripts describing the pharmacological characterization of natural or synthetic drug candidates targeting sterol biosynthesis and metabolism directly or indirectly are encourage. This Special Issue will include original research, review articles, commentaries, and editorials discussing cholesterol metabolism deregulations and targeting in cancers. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the keywords listed below.

Dr. Marc Poirot
Dr. Sandrine Silvente-Poirot
Guest Editors

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• oxysterol, oxyphytosterol, steroidal alkaloids, cholesterol biosynthesis, LDL, HDL, CD36, SRB1, cell proliferation, metastasis, antitumor immune response