The 5,6-epoxycholesterol metabolic pathway in cancer: emergence of new
pharmacological targets
Abstract
Metabolic pathways have emerged as cornerstones in carcinogenic
deregulation providing new therapeutic strategies for cancer management.
This is illustrated by the recent discovery of a cholesterol metabolic
branch involving the biochemical transformation of 5,6-epoxycholesterol
(5,6-ECs). 5,6-ECs have been shown to be differentially metabolized in
breast cancers (BC) compared to normal breast tissue. 5,6-ECs are
metabolized into the tumour promoter oncosterone in BC, while they are
transformed into the tumour suppressor metabolite dendrogenin A (DDA) in
normal breast tissue. Blocking oncosterone’s mitogenic and invasive
potential will represent new opportunities for BC treatment. The
reactivation of DDA biosynthesis, or its use as a drug, represents
promising therapeutic approaches such as DDA-deficiency complementation,
activation of BC cell re-differentiation and BC chemoprevention. This
review presents current knowledge as to the 5,6-EC metabolic pathway in
BC focusing on the 5,6-EC metabolic enzymes ChEH and HSD11B2, and on
5,6-EC metabolite targets LXRβ and GR.