Abstract
Hemopexin is the plasma protein with the highest affinity for heme. Seminal studies have highlighted its role in different kinds of heme-associated disorders, but its implication in cancer has been neglected for a long time. Considering the emerging importance of heme in tumors, the present review proposes an update of the works investigating hemopexin involvement in cancer, with the attempt to stimulate further future studies on this topic.
Highlights
The comparison of sera from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and patients with a benign lung disease, as well as pleural effusion samples from NSCLC patients with those from individuals affected by tuberculosis, showed significant enrichment in Hx levels in the tumor-bearing patients [10], a result confirmed by
By comparing the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) stromal proteome from patient showing lymph-node metastasis (LN+) with that of patients without any metastasis (LN−), it has been observed that Hx expression differs between patients with divergent
Enhanced endogenous heme biosynthesis, associated with heme export by FLVCR1a, has been reported in different kinds of cancer. This is a strategy adopted by tumor cells to down-modulate the TCA cycle flux and, the rate of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), limiting the oxidative metabolism [15]
Summary
Hx binds heme with an affinity in the picomolar range and, as explained above, it is able to modify its properties, limiting its toxicity and pro-oxidant effects [4] It regulates its distribution in the body, favoring its delivery to the liver. It can modulate its accumulation inside the cells by promoting its export through the plasma membrane heme exporter FLVCR1a (Feline Leukemia Virus subgroup C Receptor 1a) [6]. For these reasons, Hx could represent a highly interesting player in cancer development
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