TY - JOUR
T1 - Sphingolipid players in the leukemia arena
AU - Ricci, Clara
AU - Onida, Francesco
AU - Ghidoni, Riccardo
PY - 2006/12
Y1 - 2006/12
N2 - Sphingolipids function as bioactive mediators of different cellular processes, mostly proliferation, survival, differentiation and apoptosis, besides being structural components of cellular membranes. Involvement of sphingolipid metabolism in cancerogenesis was demonstrated in solid tumors as well as in hematological malignancies. Herein, we describe the main biological and clinical aspects of leukemias and summarize data regarding sphingolipids as mediators of apoptosis triggered in response to anti-leukemic agents and synthetic analogs as inducers of cell death as well. We also report the contribution of molecules that modulate sphingolipid metabolism to development of encouraging strategies for leukemia treatment. Finally we address how deregulation of sphingolipid metabolism is associated to occurrence of therapy resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Sphingolipids can be considered promising therapeutic tools alone or in combination with other compounds, as well as valid targets in the attempt to eradicate leukemia and overcome drug resistance.
AB - Sphingolipids function as bioactive mediators of different cellular processes, mostly proliferation, survival, differentiation and apoptosis, besides being structural components of cellular membranes. Involvement of sphingolipid metabolism in cancerogenesis was demonstrated in solid tumors as well as in hematological malignancies. Herein, we describe the main biological and clinical aspects of leukemias and summarize data regarding sphingolipids as mediators of apoptosis triggered in response to anti-leukemic agents and synthetic analogs as inducers of cell death as well. We also report the contribution of molecules that modulate sphingolipid metabolism to development of encouraging strategies for leukemia treatment. Finally we address how deregulation of sphingolipid metabolism is associated to occurrence of therapy resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Sphingolipids can be considered promising therapeutic tools alone or in combination with other compounds, as well as valid targets in the attempt to eradicate leukemia and overcome drug resistance.
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Ceramide
KW - Chemotherapeutics
KW - Leukemia
KW - Resistance
KW - Sphingolipids
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33845284855&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33845284855&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbamem.2006.06.016
DO - 10.1016/j.bbamem.2006.06.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 16904628
AN - SCOPUS:33845284855
VL - 1758
SP - 2121
EP - 2132
JO - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes
SN - 0005-2736
IS - 12
ER -