Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer

Cholesterol metabolism reprogramming helps tumor cells meet their high energy and biosynthetic needs. Many studies link high cholesterol levels to a higher risk of cancers, such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism contributes to cancer development and prog...

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Main Authors: Chunyu Zhang, Zhiwei Miao, Yan Xu, Tongguo Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1631
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author Chunyu Zhang
Zhiwei Miao
Yan Xu
Tongguo Shi
author_facet Chunyu Zhang
Zhiwei Miao
Yan Xu
Tongguo Shi
author_sort Chunyu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Cholesterol metabolism reprogramming helps tumor cells meet their high energy and biosynthetic needs. Many studies link high cholesterol levels to a higher risk of cancers, such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism contributes to cancer development and progression. Various non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, piRNAs, and tRNAs, are key players in this process. However, systematic reviews of ncRNAs’ functions in cholesterol metabolism and their impact on tumor progression are limited. This review aims to address this gap by summarizing the current understanding of how ncRNAs govern cholesterol metabolism in cancer. We provide a comprehensive overview of cholesterol metabolism reprogramming in tumor progression through its influence on growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune evasion. Moreover, we summarize recent advances in understanding how ncRNAs regulate cholesterol metabolism in cancer, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Biomedicines
spelling doaj-art-9d597da3eeb04f56ab7e2ccfae9e8fbf2025-08-20T03:02:48ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137163110.3390/biomedicines13071631Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in CancerChunyu Zhang0Zhiwei Miao1Yan Xu2Tongguo Shi3Department of Gastroenterology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 77 South Changan Road, Zhangjiagang 215600, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 77 South Changan Road, Zhangjiagang 215600, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 77 South Changan Road, Zhangjiagang 215600, ChinaJiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 178 East Ganjiang Road, Suzhou 215000, ChinaCholesterol metabolism reprogramming helps tumor cells meet their high energy and biosynthetic needs. Many studies link high cholesterol levels to a higher risk of cancers, such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Dysregulated cholesterol metabolism contributes to cancer development and progression. Various non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, piRNAs, and tRNAs, are key players in this process. However, systematic reviews of ncRNAs’ functions in cholesterol metabolism and their impact on tumor progression are limited. This review aims to address this gap by summarizing the current understanding of how ncRNAs govern cholesterol metabolism in cancer. We provide a comprehensive overview of cholesterol metabolism reprogramming in tumor progression through its influence on growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune evasion. Moreover, we summarize recent advances in understanding how ncRNAs regulate cholesterol metabolism in cancer, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1631cholesterol metabolismnon-coding RNAscancer
spellingShingle Chunyu Zhang
Zhiwei Miao
Yan Xu
Tongguo Shi
Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer
Biomedicines
cholesterol metabolism
non-coding RNAs
cancer
title Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer
title_full Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer
title_fullStr Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer
title_short Non-Coding RNAs as Critical Modulators of Cholesterol Metabolism in Cancer
title_sort non coding rnas as critical modulators of cholesterol metabolism in cancer
topic cholesterol metabolism
non-coding RNAs
cancer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1631
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AT zhiweimiao noncodingrnasascriticalmodulatorsofcholesterolmetabolismincancer
AT yanxu noncodingrnasascriticalmodulatorsofcholesterolmetabolismincancer
AT tongguoshi noncodingrnasascriticalmodulatorsofcholesterolmetabolismincancer