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Metabolism

Cholesterol promotes breast cancer growth

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 14, page 11 (2014)Cite this article

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High cholesterol is a risk factor for some breast cancers and is associated with reduced response to hormone therapy. 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC) is a metabolite of cholesterol, and a recent study shows that it is specifically required for hormone-dependent growth and metastasis in a mouse model of breast cancer. Inhibiting cytochrome P450 oxidase (CYP27A1), the enzyme that converts cholesterol to 27HC, reduced tumour growth in these mice. Moreover, the authors showed that expression levels of CYP27A1 are correlated with tumour grade in humans. This molecule may represent a new therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment and prevention.

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References

  1. Nelson, E. R. et al. 27-Hydroxycholesterol links hypercholesterolemia and breast cancer pathophysiology. Science 342, 1094–1098 (2013)

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  1. Isabel Lokody
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Lokody, I. Cholesterol promotes breast cancer growth. Nat Rev Cancer 14, 11 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc3666

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