Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Apr 15, 2022; 14(4): 794-807
Published online Apr 15, 2022. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v14.i4.794
Table 1 Roles of sirtuins in cancer control

Role
Effect
Involved pathway or mechanism
SIRT1PromotorPromote proliferationp53, FOXO family member, E2F1, p73, RB, Ku70, SFRP1, SFRP2, GATA4, GATA5, MLH1
Inhibit apoptosisp53, NF-κβ, FOXO3, Ku70, AKT, MAPK, NRF2
Induce EMT, promote migration and metastasisZEB1
SuppressorInhibit tumor formation and proliferationβ-catenin
Induce apoptosissurvivin
Inhibit EMTSMAD4, TGF-β signaling on MMP7
SIRT2PromotorPromote proliferationMediating immune evasion, altering the alkaline environment
Inhibit apoptosiscMYC
Promote invasion and migrationStimulating mitochondrial metabolism, mediating EMT
SuppressorInhibit proliferation Inhibiting fibroblast activity and tumor angiogenesis
Inhibit invasion and migrationMMP9, E-cadherin
SIRT3PromotorInhibit apoptosis and promote proliferationp53, SHMT2, IDH2
Promote invasion and metastasisReprogramming fatty acid metabolism
SuppressorInduce cell arrest and apoptosisBcl-2, p53, HIF1α, PDC, SOD2, GOT2
Inhibit EMT and migrationFOXO3A, Wnt / β-catenin pathway
Inhibit tumorigenesisPDH
SIRT4PromotorPromote proliferationPTEN
SuppressorInhibit glutamine metabolism and proliferationmTORC1 pathway
Inhibit EMT, invasion and migrationE-cadherin
Induce G1 cell cycle arrestCyclin D, cyclin E
SIRT5PromotorPromote proliferationGLUD1, SHMT2, NRF2, PKM2, SUN2
Inhibit mitochondrial apoptosisCyt c
Promote autophagyAMPK–mTOR pathway
Promote invasion and migrationE2F1
Promote resistance to chemotherapySDHA
SuppressorInhibit carcinoma developmentACOX1
Inhibit proliferationSOD1
Represent protective mechanism for tumor cellsInhibiting ammonia-induced autophagy
SIRT6PromotorPromote proliferation and inhibit apoptosisERK1/2 pathway, AKT
Promote invasion and migrationERK1/2/MMP9 signaling
Contribute to cancer development and progressionRegulating autophagy
SuppressorInhibit proliferationPCBP2, ERK1/2
Inhibit Warburg effectHIF-1α
Induce apoptosisNF-κβ, Bax, survivin
Inhibit proliferation, invasion and migrationPKM2
SIRT7PromotorPromote proliferationERK1/2, H3K18ac
Inhibit apoptosismiR34a, NF-κβ family subunits, mTOR/IGF2 pathway
Promote invasionVimentin, fibronectin, E-cadherin, β-catenin
SuppressorInhibit proliferation and invasionSMAD4
Inhibit EMTTGF-β signaling
Table 2 Roles of sirtuins in esophageal cancer

Type
Role
Effect
Ref.
SIRT1ESCCPromotorSuppression of SIRT1 inhibits cell proliferation, cell migration, and EMT in ESCC cell line[22,23]
SIRT1 expression is associated with poor prognosis[23-27,34]
SIRT1 enhances chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy resistance[29-32]
Rapamycin suppresses cell viability, migration, invasion by negatively regulating SIRT1[35]
EACSIRT1 is associated with poor overall survival[28]
SIRT1 is a useful biomarker for high-grade dysplasia and cancer of Barrett's esophagus[33]
Sirtinol, SIRT1 inhibitor, inhibits cell viability, affects proliferation in the long term, and potentially suppresses resistant and recurrent tumors under hypoxic conditions[36]
SIRT2ESCCPromotorSIRT2 expression was associated with tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, advanced clinical stage, poor progression-free survival, and overall survival[47]
EACSuppressorDysregulation of SIRT2 is associated with poor prognosis[48,49]
SIRT3ESCCPromotorSerum SIRT3 levels are higher in ESCC patients compared to those in the control subjects[63]
SIRT3 induces the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis[64]
High SIRT3 expression is associated with poor survival outcome[65,66]
EACNo report
SIRT4ESCCSuppressorSIRT4 rescues the promoting effect of miR-424-5p on ESCC cell proliferation and migration[76]
Low SIRT4 expression is associated with a high distant recurrence rate and poor prognosis, and in vitro, knockdown of SIRT4 promotes cell proliferation and migration[77]
EACNo report
SIRT5ESCCNo report
EAC
SIRT6ESCCPromotorSIRT 6 is overexpressed in ESCC tissues and that it also promotes cell proliferation and induces the expression of Bcl2, an important anti-apoptotic factor, and autophagy in ESCC cells[102]
EACNo report
SIRT7ESCCNo report
EAC