sphingosine-kinase and Hematologic-Neoplasms

Sphingolipids, such as ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are bioactive molecules that have important functions in a variety of cellular processes, which include proliferation, survival, differentiation and cellular responses to stress. Sphingolipids have a major impact on the determination of cell fate by contributing to either cell survival or death. Although ceramide and sphingosine are usually considered to induce cell death, S1P promotes survival of cells. Sphingosine kinases (SPHKs) are the enzymes that catalyze the conversion of sphingosine to S1P. There are two isoforms, SPHK1 and SPHK2, which are encoded by different genes. SPHK1 has recently been implicated in contributing to cell transformation, tumor angiogenesis and metastatic spread, as well as cancer cell multidrug-resistance. More recent findings suggest that SPHK2 also has a role in cancer progression. This review is an overview of our understanding of the role of SPHKs and S1P in hematopoietic malignancies and provides information on the current status of SPHK inhibitors with respect to their therapeutic potential in the treatment of hematological cancers.

Topics: Disease Progression; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Lysophospholipids; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Sphingosine

The sphingosine kinases (SphKs) have relatively recently been implicated in contributing to malignant cellular processes with particular interest in the oncogenic properties of SPHK1. Whilst SPHK1 has received considerable attention as a putative oncoprotein, SPHK2 has been much more difficult to study, with often conflicting data surrounding its role in cancer. Initial studies focused on non-haemopoietic malignancies, however a growing body of literature on the role of sphingolipid metabolism in haemopoietic malignancies is now emerging. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of the SphKs and the bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), the product of the reaction they catalyse. It then reviews the current literature regarding the roles of S1P and the SphKs in haemopoietic malignancies and discusses the compounds currently available that modulate sphingolipid metabolism and their potential and shortcomings as therapeutic agents for the treatment of haematological malignancies.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Drug Design; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hematologic Neoplasms; Hematopoiesis; Humans; Lysophospholipids; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); Sphingosine

Hypoxia, defined as reduced tissue oxygen concentration, is a characteristic of solid tumors and is an indicator of unfavorable diagnosis in patients. At the cellular level, the adaptation to hypoxia is under the control of two related transcription factors, HIF-1α and HIF-2α (Hypoxia-Inducible Factor), which activate expression of genes promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, increased tumor growth and resistance to treatments. A role for HIF-1α and HIF-2α is also emerging in hematologic malignancies such as lymphoma and l eukemia. Recent studies have identified the sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine 1-phosphate (SphK1/S1P) signaling pathway - which elicits various cellular processes including cell proliferation, cell survival or angiogenesis - as a new regulator of HIF-1α or HIF-2α activity. This review will consider how targeting the SphK1/S1P signaling could represent an attractive strategy for therapeutic intervention in cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; Lysophospholipids; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); Signal Transduction; Sphingosine

The sphingolipids ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate have emerged as important signaling molecules that regulate a number of important cellular processes. Sphingosine 1-phosphate enhances cell survival and proliferation, and also regulates angiogenesis, cell invasion, and differentiation via both its cell surface G protein-coupled receptors and recently identified intracellular effectors. In contrast, ceramide and sphingosine elicit growth arrest and apoptosis through direct modulation of a number of intracellular targets. The cellular balance of these sphingolipids contributes to the determination of cell fate, and it is now clear that disruption in this 'sphingolipid rheostat' contributes to the development, progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The sphingosine kinases are central regulators of this pathway since they not only increase sphingosine 1-phosphate and assist in reduction of ceramide and sphingosine, but are also regulated at multiple levels by external stimuli. Thus, targeting the regulation of the sphingosine kinases may be a viable therapeutic strategy for a diverse array of cancers. Here, we describe the current knowledge of sphingosine kinase regulation, effects of current and potential chemotherapeutic agents on this system, and discuss the implications of this for the treatment of hematological malignancies and other cancers.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Enzyme Activation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Neoplasms; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a pleiotropic bioactive lipid mediator that regulates several processes important for hematologic cancer progression. S1P is generated by two sphingosine kinases, SphK1 and SphK2, and is exported outside the cell, where it activates specific cell surface S1P G-protein coupled receptors in autocrine/paracrine manner, coined "inside-out signaling". In this review, we highlight the importance of SphK1 and inside-out signaling by S1P in hematologic malignancy. We also summarize the results of studies targeting the SphK1/S1P/S1P receptor axis and the effects of the S1P receptor modulator, FTY720, in hematologic malignancy.

Topics: Animals; Fingolimod Hydrochloride; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lysophospholipids; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); Propylene Glycols; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid; Sphingosine

Topics: Adamantane; Animals; Apoptosis; Carcinogenesis; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; DNA Repair; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Hydrazines; Mast Cells; Mastocytosis; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Mutation; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); Protein Isoforms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; Pyrazoles; Pyridines; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays