Significance of Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Expression in Colorectal Cancer

Overview

Journal Front Oncol

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 May 3

PMID 33937026

Citations 14

Authors

Chun-Yu Liu

Tzu-Ting Huang

Ji-Lin Chen

Pei-Yi Chu

Chia-Han Lee

Hsin-Chen Lee

Yu-Hsuan Lee

Yuan-Ya Chang

Shung-Haur Yang

Jeng-Kai Jiang

Wei-Shone Chen

Yee Chao

Hao-Wei Teng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Because of the lack of reliable prognostic and predictive biomarkers for CRC, most patients are often diagnosed at a late stage. The tryptophan-kynurenine pathway plays a crucial role in promoting cancer progression. Kynurenine is considered an oncometabolite in colon cancer, and its downstream metabolites are also associated with CRC. Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a pivotal enzyme that catalyzes kynurenine metabolism, is essential for several cellular processes. In the current study, we explored the role of KMO in CRC. Immunohistochemical results showed that KMO was upregulated in CRC tissues relative to paired healthy tissue and polyps. Moreover, CRC patients with higher KMO expression were associated with higher metastasis and poorer survival rates. Knockdown of KMO decreased the expression of cancer stem cell markers, as well as the sphere-forming, migration, and invasion abilities of CRC cells. Additionally, blockade of the enzymatic activity of KMO using an inhibitor suppressed sphere formation and cell motility in CRC cells. These findings suggest the clinical relevance of KMO in CRC tumorigenesis and aggressiveness.

Citing Articles

Role of amino acid metabolism in tumor immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer.

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Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic significance of Tryptophan Metabolism and signaling in cancer.

Yan J, Chen D, Ye Z, Zhu X, Li X, Jiao H Mol Cancer. 2024; 23(1):241.

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Bidirectional effects of the tryptophan metabolite indole-3-acetaldehyde on colorectal cancer.

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Tryptophan metabolism in digestive system tumors: unraveling the pathways and implications.

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The kynurenine pathway presents multi-faceted metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer.

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