Liu He, Liu Yi, Wang Xinyue, Xiao Zhiwen, Ni Quanxing, Yu Xianjun, Luo Guopei
Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China.
Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2025 Mar 18;57(9):1381-1390. doi: 10.3724/abbs.2025030.
The dysregulation of polyamines in tumors has made polyamine metabolism an appealing target for cancer therapy. Gene mutations drive the reprogramming of polyamine metabolism in tumors, presenting promising opportunities for clinical treatment. The proposed strategies involve inhibiting polyamine biosynthesis while also targeting the polyamine transport system as antitumor approaches. A growing number of drugs aimed at polyamine biosynthesis and transport systems are undergoing clinical trials. Polyamine metabolism plays a role in regulating cancer signaling pathways, suggesting potential combination therapies for cancer treatment. Furthermore, supplemental polyamine substances have demonstrated antitumor activity, indicating that combining polyamines with downstream targets or immunotherapy could offer significant clinical benefits. These discoveries open new avenues for leveraging polyamine metabolism in anticancer therapy.