Sphingolipids in cancer: regulation of pathogenesis and therapy

Sphingolipids are known to play important roles in the regulation of cell proliferation, response to chemotherapeutic agents, and/or prevention of cancer. Recently, significant progress has been made in the identification of the enzymes and their biochemical functions involved in sphingolipid metabolism. In addition, development of new techniques for the quantitative analysis of sphingolipids at their physiological levels has facilitated studies to examine distinct functions of these bioactive sphingolipids in cancer pathogenesis and therapy. This review will focus on the recent developments regarding the roles of bioactive sphingolipids in the regulation of cell growth/proliferation, and anti-cancer therapeutics.