While the month of awareness of colorectal cancer screening has just started, a new study shows that lipid species modified in patients can serve as potential prognostic markers after chemotherapy.
- Researchers have identified lipid alterations in cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy.
- More specifically, for a cellular line, the resistance was associated with an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol esters, two lipids. In the other three lines, it was associated with an increase in phospholipids.
- Ultimately, this study could even allow the development of personalized therapeutic strategies to avoid resistance to treatment.
Blue Mars. It is the month devoted to mobilization against colorectal cancer. This disease remains, in France, the second cause of cancer death in men and the third in women, according to THE Panorama of cancers in France – 2024 edition. If it is detected early, colorectal cancer is cured in 9 cases out of 10. But often the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage, as the first symptoms are generally not present at the start of the pathology. HAS The present time, the main treatment against colorectal cancer is chemotherapy, according to The Curie Institute. This aims to destroy cancer cells and perhaps administered alone – exclusive chemotherapy – or combined with radiotherapy. Nevertheless, Some patients develop resistance to treatments, who therefore make them ineffective over time. For the moment, doctors cannot predict which patients will develop this resistance.
Lipid signatures associated with cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy
However, this could soon change. In a study published in the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciencesresearchers of The University of Geneva (Unige) have identified specific alterations of certain lipids in cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy. These lipid signatures could therefore make it possible to anticipate efficiency or resistance to treatments. “”The identification of altered lipid species could potentially serve as prognostic markers of this resistance to chemotherapy, indicates Dr George M. Ramzy, first author of the study, in a press release. In addition, understanding these changes could help develop new therapeutic strategies to overcome this resistance, and could play a very important role in restoring sensitivity to drugs”.
Colorectal cancer: “a personalized approach” due to the various genetic profiles
During their work, scientists studied four cancer cell lines, with different genetic profiles, from four patients. These samples have been divided into two groups: those who have received chemotherapy treatment (up to 60 weeks, time required for resistance) and those who have not been treated. The researchers then analyzed and compared the lipid profile – what they call “lipidome” – cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy with that of participants who have not received any treatment.
Result: for a cellular line, resistance was associated with an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol esters, two lipids. In the other three lines, it was associated with an increase in phospholipids. “”These differences are explained by the different genetic profiles of each individual, underlines George M. Ramzy. Each patient is different. This explains the variability in the efficiency of treatments, and therefore the importance of a personalized approach ”. Ultimately, CETTE Research could therefore allow the development of personalized therapeutic strategies to avoid resistance to chemotherapy. However, before that, other experiences will have to be carried out.
