Short-chain fatty acids and cancer

Shan Li; Yixin Duan; Shudi Luo; Fangxin Zhou; Qingang Wu; Zhimin Lu

doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.003

Short-chain fatty acids and cancer

Trends Cancer. 2024 Dec 4:S2405-8033(24)00255-3. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.003. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shan Li¹, Yixin Duan², Shudi Luo¹, Fangxin Zhou¹, Qingang Wu¹, Zhimin Lu³

Affiliations

¹ Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Frontier Medical Research on Cancer Metabolism, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China; Institute of Fundamental and Transdisciplinary Research, Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
² Department of Oncology, Cancer Institute of The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China.
³ Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Frontier Medical Research on Cancer Metabolism, and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China; Institute of Fundamental and Transdisciplinary Research, Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China. Electronic address: zhiminlu@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 39638744
DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.003

Abstract

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), derived from the diet and the microbiota, serve as crucial links between the diet, gut microbiota, metabolism, immunity, and cancer. They function as energy sources through β-oxidation and regulate macromolecular synthesis, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities, protein modifications, signaling pathways, and gene expression in cells within the tumor microenvironment, particularly in tumor and immune cells. The critical role of SCFAs in maintaining normal homeostasis and influencing tumor progression highlights the potential of targeting SCFA-mediated cellular processes for cancer prevention and treatment.

Keywords: acetate; butyrate; cancer; cell death; immune response; metabolism; proliferation; propionate; short chain fatty acid.

Publication types

Review