Peroxisomes and PPARs: Emerging role as master regulators of cancer metabolism

Cancer is a disease characterized by the acquisition of a multitude of unique traits. It has long been understood that cancer cells divert significantly from normal cell metabolism. The most obvious of metabolic changes is that cancer cells strongly rely on glucose conversion by aerobic glycolysis. In addition, they also regularly develop mechanisms to use lipids and fatty acids for their energy needs. Peroxisomes lie central to these adaptive changes of lipid metabolism.

Peroxisomes are metabolic organelles that take part in over 50 enzymatic reactions crucial for cellular functioning. Thus, they are essential for an effective and comprehensive use of lipids’ energy supplied to cells. Cancer cells display a substantial increase in the biogenesis of peroxisomes and an increased expression of proteins necessary for the enzymatic functions provided by peroxisomes. Moreover, the enzymatic conversion of FAs in peroxisomes is a significant source of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) that strongly impact cancer malignancy. Important regulators in peroxisomal FA oxidation and ROS/RNS generation are the transcription factors of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family. This review describes the metabolic changes in tumorigenesis and cancer progression influenced by peroxisomes. We will highlight the ambivalent role that peroxisomes and PPARs play in the different stages of tumor development and summarize our current understanding of how to capitalize on the comprehension of peroxisomal biology for cancer treatment.