Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42352298›Full record

ReviewBiomolecules2026

Revisiting the Lipid-Cancer Axis: PCSK9, ANGPTL3, and CETP as Emerging Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Oncology.

Dimitris C Kounatidis, Natalia G Vallianou, Fotis Panagopoulos, Antonios Bampiolakis, Vasileios Stamatopoulos, Maria Dalamaga, Iordanis Mourouzis, Constantinos Pantos

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biomolecules, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Dimitris C KounatidisDiabetes Center, First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-4338-4879
Natalia G VallianouFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Sismanogleio General Hospital, 15126 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-3874-5393
Fotis PanagopoulosFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Sismanogleio General Hospital, 15126 Athens, Greece.
Antonios BampiolakisFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Sismanogleio General Hospital, 15126 Athens, Greece.
Vasileios StamatopoulosEmergency Department, Evangelismos General Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece.
Maria DalamagaDepartment of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-7008-388X
Iordanis MourouzisDepartment of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Constantinos PantosDepartment of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer remains a major global health challenge, with persistent limitations in early diagnosis, metastatic disease control, and the achievement of durable therapeutic responses with acceptable toxicity. These challenges highlight the need for more precise biomarkers and more effective therapeutic strategies. Increasing evidence implicates dysregulated lipid metabolism as a central contributor to tumor development and progression. In recent years, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) have gained particular attention due to their roles in cholesterol homeostasis, oncogenic signaling, and immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This narrative review evaluates the potential of these lipid-regulatory mediators as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in oncology. The majority of available evidence derives from preclinical and epidemiological studies, with PCSK9 representing the most extensively investigated target. Findings are sometimes contradictory and strongly influenced by tumor type, disease stage, and biological context, which currently precludes the clinical applicability of these molecules as reliable biomarkers. Similar limitations apply to their translational potential as actionable therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, emerging preclinical evidence suggests that modulation of these glycoproteins may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy, including nanomedicine-based approaches. Of note, clinical research investigating the role of PCSK9 inhibition in oncology is currently ongoing, whereas comparable studies focusing on ANGPTL3 and CETP remain scarce. Overall, further mechanistic, translational, and prospective clinical investigations are warranted to elucidate the involvement of these lipid-regulatory proteins in cancer biology and to define their potential integration into future oncologic diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

Angiopoietin-like ProteinsBiomarkers, TumorCholesterol Ester Transfer ProteinsLipid MetabolismNeoplasmsProprotein Convertase 9Angiopoietin-Like Protein 3AnimalsHumansMolecular Targeted TherapyTumor MicroenvironmentAngiopoietin-Like Protein 3Angiopoietin-like ProteinsANGPTL3 protein, humanBiomarkers, TumorCETP protein, humanCholesterol Ester Transfer ProteinsPCSK9 protein, humanProprotein Convertase 9ANGPTL3cancerCETPchemotherapydiagnosisimmune checkpoint inhibitorslipid metabolismPCSK9tumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID42352298
PMCPMC13296625

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Registered trials

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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.