Ma Ying-Yu, Mou Xiao-Zhou, Ding Ya-Hui, Zou Hai, Huang Dong-Sheng
a Clinical Research Institute , Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital , Hangzhou , China.
b Medical School and Jiangsu Laboratory of Molecular Medicine , Nanjing University , Nanjing , China.
Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2016 Oct;13(10):1397-406. doi: 10.1080/17425247.2016.1188803. Epub 2016 May 25.
Ceramide is a bioactive lipid which functions as a tumor suppressor, regulating processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, senescence and apoptosis. However, several challenges need to be overcome in order to realize the therapeutic potential of such a bioactive lipid combination regimen, including the hydrophobic and hemolytic nature of the lipids.
In this review, we briefly describe the biological function of ceramide, then the delivery systems that have been developed to improve the pharmacology of ceramide have been summarized. In addition, combination therapies based on these delivery systems to reveal the interactions between therapeutic drugs and ceramide were also highlighted. Furthermore, future perspective before the extension of ceramide's applications in cancer treatment will also be discussed.
Although ceramide has attracted tremendous attention in targeted cancer treatment, its levels are usually suppressed by over-expression of ceramide-metabolizing enzymes or down-regulation of ceramide-generating enzymes. Thus, finding ways to increase ceramide by exogenous treatment in cancer cells is desired. Therefore, translating these bioactive lipids into clinical usage requires a variety of methods, and appropriately designed delivery systems may play the direct and important role in this process.
神经酰胺是一种生物活性脂质，具有肿瘤抑制功能，可调节细胞增殖、分化、衰老和凋亡等过程。然而，为了实现这种生物活性脂质联合疗法的治疗潜力，需要克服几个挑战，包括脂质的疏水性和溶血性。
在本综述中，我们简要描述了神经酰胺的生物学功能，然后总结了为改善神经酰胺药理学而开发的递送系统。此外，还强调了基于这些递送系统的联合疗法，以揭示治疗药物与神经酰胺之间的相互作用。此外，还将讨论神经酰胺在癌症治疗中应用扩展之前的未来前景。
尽管神经酰胺在靶向癌症治疗中引起了极大关注，但其水平通常会因神经酰胺代谢酶的过度表达或神经酰胺生成酶的下调而受到抑制。因此，需要找到通过外源处理在癌细胞中增加神经酰胺的方法。因此将这些生物活性脂质转化为临床应用需要多种方法，而设计合理的递送系统可能在这一过程中发挥直接且重要的作用。
