Molecular Mechanisms of Succinate-Promoted Tumourigenesis
LIU Yi, CAI Heng*
The metabolic role of succinate as an intermediate metabolite in the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle has been extensively studied. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the molecular mechanisms by which succinate accumulation leads to associated tumourigenesis, as an inflammatory signal and induction of epigenetic alterations. Indeed, mutations in the succinate dehydrogenase gene and aberrant succinate accumulation have been observed in a range of hereditary and sporadic malignancies. The paper describes the role played by high concentrations of succinate in the tumour microenvironment in the process of tumourigenesis and provide insights into the role and mechanisms of succinate. With a focus on mechanistic studies, the article summarises the use of succinate as a diagnostic marker for cancer and targeted therapies that have been applied in the clinic or are under development. It is surmised that drugs developed for different molecular targets are expected to expand the research horizons in the field of anti-cancer therapy.
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