Peroxisome Metabolism in Cancer

Abstract

Peroxisomes are metabolic organelles involved in lipid metabolism and cellular redoxbalance. Peroxisomal function is central to fatty acid oxidation, ether phospholipid synthesis, bile acidsynthesis, and reactive oxygen species homeostasis. Human disorders caused by genetic mutations inperoxisome genes have led to extensive studies on peroxisome biology. Peroxisomal defects are linkedto metabolic dysregulation in diverse human diseases, such as neurodegeneration and age-relateddisorders, revealing the significance of peroxisome metabolism in human health. Cancer is a diseasewith metabolic aberrations. Despite the critical role of peroxisomes in cell metabolism, the functionaleects of peroxisomes in cancer are not as well recognized as those of other metabolic organelles,such as mitochondria. In addition, the significance of peroxisomes in cancer is less appreciated thanit is in degenerative diseases. In this review, I summarize the metabolic pathways in peroxisomesand the dysregulation of peroxisome metabolism in cancer. In addition, I discuss the potential ofinactivating peroxisomes to target cancer metabolism, which may pave the way for more eectivecancer treatment.