Abstract
Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are inflammatory lipid mediators that
play a central role in the pathophysiology of several inflammatory
diseases. Recently, there has been an increased interest in determining
how these lipid mediators orchestrate tumor development and metastasis
through promoting a pro-tumoral microenvironment. Upregulation of CysLTs
receptors and CysLTs production is found in a number of cancers and has
been associated with increased tumorigenesis. Understanding the
molecular mechanisms underlying the role of CysLTs and their receptors
in cancer progression will help investigate the potential of targeting
CysLTs signaling for anti-cancer therapy. This review gives an overview
of the biological effects of CysLTs and their receptors, along with
current knowledge of their regulation and expression. It also provides a
recent update on the molecular mechanisms that have been postulated to
explain their role in tumorigenesis and on the potential of anti-CysLTs
in the treatment of cancer.