Choline kinases: Enzymatic activity, involvement in cancer and other diseases, inhibitors

One of the aspects of tumor metabolism that distinguish it from healthy tissue is the phosphorylation of choline by choline kinases, which initiates the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine. Presently, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews discussing the current understanding of the role of choline kinase in cancer processes, as well as studies on the anti-tumor properties of choline kinase inhibitors. To address these gaps, this review delves into the enzymatic and non-enzymatic properties of CHKα and CHKβ and explores their precise involvement in cancer processes, particularly cancer cell proliferation. Additionally, we discuss clinical aspects of choline kinases in various tumor types, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, leukemia, hepatocellular carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, and breast cancer. We examine the potential of CHKα inhibitors as anti-tumor drugs, although they are not yet in the clinical trial phase. Finally, the paper also touches upon the significance of choline kinases in non-cancerous diseases.