Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40540357›Full record

ArticleCancer research2025

Ceramide-Induced Metabolic Stress Depletes Fumarate and Drives Mitophagy to Mediate Tumor Suppression.

Natalia V Oleinik, Firdevs Cansu Atilgan, Mohamed Faisal Kassir, Han Gyul Lee, Alhaji H Janneh, Wyatt Wofford, Chase Walton, Zdzislaw M Szulc, Elizabeth G Hill, Alexander V Alekseyenko and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Natalia V Oleinik *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-6658-9140
Firdevs Cansu Atilgan *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0001-9055-9497
Mohamed Faisal KassirDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0003-3501-1802
Han Gyul LeeDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-4552-4436
Alhaji H JannehDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0001-5959-6126
Wyatt WoffordDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0001-8115-464X
Chase WaltonDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0003-4738-6871
Zdzislaw M SzulcDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0003-1756-9028
Elizabeth G HillHollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0003-0896-4106
Alexander V AlekseyenkoHollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-5748-2085
Huseyin CimenFaculty of Engineering, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkiye.ORCID 0000-0003-0801-3554
Jessica H HartmanDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-9134-7469
Christina Voelkel-JohnsonDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0001-6909-6678
Michael B LillyHollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0001-9000-3608
John J LemastersDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-7627-6295
Norma FrizzellDepartment of Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-5080-4176
Xue-Zhong YuHollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-1751-2884
Shikhar MehrotraHollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-5411-9504
Besim OgretmenDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.ORCID 0000-0002-1019-5660

Funding

Project 3: Targeting SK2/S1P Signaling for the Regulation of c-Myc and Tumor SuppressionP01CA203628 · NCI · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI OGRETMEN, BESIM · 2016 to 2021
$8.9M
Ceramide Signaling in the Regulation of Head & Neck Cancer Cell Death and TherapyR01DE016572 · NIDCR · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI OGRETMEN, BESIM · 2005 to 2025
$7.4M
Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related ResearchR01CA214461 · NCI · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI Besim Ogretmen · 2018 to 2026
$3.3M
Targeting cytoplasmic SET oncoprotein by sphingolipid analog drugs for the induction of necroptosis to treat lung cancerR01CA285926 · NCI · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI Besim Ogretmen · 2024 to 2026
$1.9M
Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Iron Uptake: New Therapeutic Targets in HepatotoxicityR01DK119523 · NIDDK · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · PI LEMASTERS, JOHN J, NIEMINEN, ANNA-LIISA · 2021 to 2024
$1.8M
National Institutes of Health (NIH) CA214461National Institutes of Health (NIH) CA285926National Institutes of Health (NIH) DE016572NCI NIH HHS P01 CA203628NCI NIH HHS R01 CA214461NCI NIH HHS R01 CA285926NIDCR NIH HHS R01 DE016572NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK119523
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bioactive ceramide induces cell death in part by promoting mitophagy. C18-ceramide levels are commonly reduced in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, which correlates with poor prognosis, suggesting the potential of harnessing ceramide for cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated the ability of the ceramide analog D-erythro-14-(1-pyridinium)-N-octadecanoyl-sphingosine selenite (LCL768) to induce mitophagy and metabolic stress in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Mechanistically, LCL768 induced ceramide synthase 1 (CerS1)-mediated endogenous C18-ceramide accumulation in mitochondria to mediate mitophagy, which did not require the CerS1 transporter p17/PERMIT but was dependent on DRP1 activation via nitrosylation at C644. DRP1 facilitated the anchoring of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial membranes by promoting the association between phosphatidylethanolamine in the ER and cardiolipin in mitochondrial membranes. Mutations of Drp1 that prevented its binding to ER and mitochondrial membranes blocked CerS1/C18-ceramide mitochondrial accumulation, inhibiting LCL768-mediated mitophagy. In addition, LCL768-driven mitophagy altered mitochondrial metabolism, resulting in fumarate depletion and leading to tumor suppression in vivo. Exogenous fumarate supplementation prevented LCL768-mediated mitophagy, mitochondrial trafficking of CerS1, ER-mitochondrial tethering, and tumor suppression in mice. Fumarate metabolism was associated with PARKIN succination at a catalytic cysteine (Cys431), inhibiting its association with PINK1 and ubiquitin, thereby preventing mitophagy. LCL768-induced fumarate depletion attenuated PARKIN succination to promote PARKIN activation and mitophagy, indicating a feedforward mechanism that regulates mitophagy and fumarate metabolism through PARKIN succination. These data provide a mechanism whereby LCL768/CerS1-C18-ceramide-mediated mitophagy and tumor suppression are regulated by Drp1 nitrosylation, fumarate depletion, and PARKIN succination, providing a metabolic stress signature for lethal mitophagy. SIGNIFICANCE: The identification of a metabolic link between ceramide-induced mitophagy, fission, and fumarate depletion reveals an effective tumor suppressive strategy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Indexed as

CeramidesMitophagySquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckStress, PhysiologicalAnimalsCell Line, TumorDynaminsEndoplasmic ReticulumHumansMembrane ProteinsMiceMice, NudeMitochondriaSphingosine N-AcyltransferaseXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysCeramidesCERS1 protein, humanDynaminsMembrane ProteinsSphingosine N-Acyltransferase

Identifiers

PMID40540357
PMCPMC12247146

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.