Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40783686›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2025

DHCR24 overexpression is involved in lipid metabolic reprogramming to drive cervical cancer malignant progression and is associated with immune microenvironment.

Lin Cheng, Yuance Xu, Zhuo Li, Danting Sun, Yan Xu, Junqi He, Yulong Chen, Qin Yao

Abstract read
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Article in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Lin Cheng *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
Yuance Xu *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
Zhuo LiDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Danting SunDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
Yan XuDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
Junqi HeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
Yulong ChenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
Qin YaoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China. dr_yaoqin@qdu.edu.cn.

Funding

Shandong Province Medical and Health Science and Technology Program No. 202405010839Youth Project of Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Medical Development Foundation KC2023-JX-0288-RQ20
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveLipid metabolic reprogramming enables tumor cells to acquire malignant phenotypes, including enhanced proliferative capacity, migratory potential, and invasive properties. In cervical cancer, the precise pathobiological roles and molecular mechanisms of DHCR24 remain unclear.

methodsWe performed comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to investigate the expression patterns, clinical relevance, and prognostic implications of DHCR24 in cervical carcinoma. A prognostic nomogram incorporating tumor stage and DHCR24 expression levels was developed to predict clinical outcomes in patients. Functional studies using SiHa cell lines were conducted to elucidate the oncogenic properties of DHCR24. We used a cholesterol kit to determine the cholesterol content in cervical cancer cells. Finally, we assessed the association between DHCR24 expression and tumor immune microenvironment characteristics through computational analysis of public genomic datasets.

resultsOur analysis revealed significantly elevated DHCR24 expression in cervical carcinoma specimens, demonstrating statistically significant associations with histological subtype, body mass index (BMI), and therapeutic response (P < 0.05). Univariate and Multivariate Cox regression confirmed DHCR24 as an independent prognostic indicator for cervical cancer. The ROC analysis demonstrates that DHCR24 exhibits robust diagnostic performance for cervical cancer detection. Pharmacological inhibition of DHCR24 using U18666A markedly attenuated oncogenic behaviors, suppressing cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion compared to controls (P < 0.05). Notably, intracellular cholesterol levels exhibited a dose-dependent reduction corresponding to the extent of DHCR24 suppression.

conclusionsWe hypothesized that DHCR24 is involved in reprogramming lipid metabolism, especially the cholesterol pathway, to promote tumor progression in cervical cancer and correlates with the tumor-infiltrating immune microenvironment. DHCR24 is a biomarker that predicts the progression and prognosis of cervical cancer and is one of the potential targets for cervical cancer therapy.

Indexed as

Lipid MetabolismNerve Tissue ProteinsOxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group DonorsTumor MicroenvironmentUterine Cervical NeoplasmsBiomarkers, TumorCell Line, TumorCell MovementCell ProliferationDisease ProgressionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMetabolic ReprogrammingMiddle AgedPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorNerve Tissue ProteinsOxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group DonorsCervical cancerDHCR24Immune microenvironmentLipid metabolic reprogramming

Identifiers

PMID40783686
PMCPMC12335137

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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.