1
Return

UPP1 in Cancer: Context-Dependent Roles in Metabolic Adaptation and Treatment Response

delete2026-08-13
delete0
delete
OA
AI
T
Tong Cai
X
Xuyu Chen
J
Juanjuan Huang
Y
Yukun Xu
J
Juan Li *
DOI:10.3390/cimb48080813delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Uridine phosphorylase 1 (UPP1) catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of uridine to uracil and ribose-1-phosphate, thereby linking pyrimidine salvage to central carbon metabolism. In cancer, UPP1 is functionally relevant when UPP1-linked pathway engagement and a perturbation-dependent phenotype converge within a defined cellular, nutrient/substrate, molecular, or treatment setting. The direction of effect is determined by the dominant biochemical or signaling output, whereas the strength of UPP1 dependence may be attenuated by compensation through related nucleoside-metabolic pathways. This review examines the roles of UPP1 in metabolic adaptation under nutrient stress, remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, and treatment response across cancer types. The strongest evidence concerns uridine-derived ribose-carbon utilization under glucose limitation and modulation of fluoropyrimidine response by UPP1. Mechanistic support for immune and microenvironmental effects is strongest in lung adenocarcinoma and selected metabolite-centered models, whereas most patient-outcome and pan-cancer findings remain cohort- or signature-based. This heterogeneity argues against treating UPP1 as a universal oncogenic driver or a stand-alone pan-cancer biomarker. Its biological and translational value lies in identifying tumor states in which UPP1-linked metabolism becomes functionally important or therapeutically informative.
Keywords:
uridine phosphorylase 1
uridine catabolism
pyrimidine salvage
cancer metabolism
tumor microenvironment
fluoropyrimidine response

Journal

C
Current Issues in Molecular Biology
IF:
3
Papers:
1.9K
Citations:
5.6K

Organization

T
the affiliated hospital of yangzhou university
Scholars:
22
Papers: 8
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers