Implications of hydrogen sulfide in colorectal cancer: Mechanistic insights and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies
Hanchao Lin,
Yixin Yu,
Le Zhu,
Nannan Lai,
Luming Zhang,
Yu Guo,
Xinxin Lin,
Dongqin Yang,
Ning Ren,
Zhiling Zhu,
Qiongzhu Dong
Affiliations
Hanchao Lin
Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, China; Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, China
Yixin Yu
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China
Le Zhu
Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, China
Nannan Lai
Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, China
Luming Zhang
Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, China
Yu Guo
Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, China
Xinxin Lin
Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, China
Dongqin Yang
Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, China; Corresponding author. 12 Middle Urumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
Ning Ren
Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, China; Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, And Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, China; Corresponding authors. Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Zhiling Zhu
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China; Corresponding author. 53 Zhengzhou Road, Qingdao, Shandong, 266042, China.
Qiongzhu Dong
Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, China; Corresponding authors. Key laboratory of whole-period monitoring and precise intervention of digestive cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (SMHC), Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xingsong Road, Shanghai, 201100, China.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important signaling molecule in colorectal cancer (CRC). It is produced in the colon by the catalytic synthesis of the colonocytes' enzymatic systems and the release of intestinal microbes, and is oxidatively metabolized in the colonocytes' mitochondria. Both endogenous H2S in colonic epithelial cells and exogenous H2S in intestinal lumen contribute to the onset and progression of CRC. The up-regulation of endogenous synthetases is thought to be the cause of the elevated H2S levels in CRC cells. Different diagnostic probes and combination therapies, as well as tumor treatment approaches through H2S modulation, have been developed in recent years and have become active area of investigation for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. In this review, we focus on the specific mechanisms of H2S production and oxidative metabolism as well as the function of H2S in the occurrence, progression, diagnosis, and treatment of CRC. We also discuss the present challenges and provide insights into the future research of this burgeoning field.
