Studies demonstrate that
lipid mediator
20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) synthesis and signaling are associated with the growth of
cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Stable
20-HETE agonists promote the proliferation of
cancer cells, whereas selective inhibitors of the 20-HETE-producing
enzymes of the
Cytochrome (CYP450)4A and CYP4F families can block the proliferation of
glioblastoma, prostate,
renal cell carcinoma, and
breast cancer cell lines. A recent observation that the expression of
CYP4A/4F genes was markedly elevated in thyroid, breast, colon, and
ovarian cancer further highlights the significance of 20-HETE-producing
enzymes in the progression of different types of human
cancer. These findings provide the rationale for targeting 20-HETE-producing
enzymes in human
cancers and set the basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for anticancer treatment.