Ceramides and associated key enzymes at the evolutionary crossroad of colorectal inflammatory immune responses and tumorigenesis

Ceramide is an influential lipid signaling molecule and a key factor in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism; ceramide plays integral roles in the regulation of body metabolism and tumor pathogenesis. Changes in the levels of ceramides and associated enzymes can contribute to metabolic changes and thus cause colorectal cancer (CRC) to enter different survival stages. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying the functions of ceramides and related enzymes in CRC may reveal new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize some of the fundamental mechanisms mediating the effects of ceramide and related enzymes in modulating CRC development via the ceramide-mediated induction of tumor apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation and migration as well as the effects of the key enzymes that are involved in ceramide synthesis and catabolism on the fate of CRC. The aim of this review is to provide novel ideas for developing therapeutic strategies for CRC from a metabolic perspective.