Minerals constitute only 5% of the typical human diet but are vital for health and functionality. Copper, a trace element, is absorbed by the human gut at 30–40% from diets typical of industrialized countries. The liver produces metallothioneins, which store copper. Copper is crucial for mitochondrial respiration, pigmentation, iron transport, antioxidant defense, hormone production, and extracellular matrix biosynthesis. Copper deficiency, often caused by mutations in theATP7Agene, results in Menkes disease, an X-linked recessive disorder. On the contrary, Wilson disease is characterized by toxic copper accumulation. Cuproptosis, a unique form of cell death regulated by copper, is a subtype of necrosis induced by enhanced mitochondrial metabolism and intracellular copper accumulation. This process can reduce the malignant potential of tumor cells by inhibiting glucose metabolism. Therapeutically, copper and its complexes have shown efficacy in malignancy treatments. The disruption of copper homeostasis and excessive cuproplasia are significant in colorectal cancer development and metastasis. Therefore, manipulating copper status presents a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer, using copper chelators to inhibit copper formation or copper ion carriers to promote cuproptosis. This review highlights the role of copper in human physiology and pathology, emphasizing its impact on colorectal cancer and potential therapeutic strategies. Future AI-based approaches are anticipated to accelerate the development of new compounds targeting cuproptosis and copper disruption in colorectal cancer.
矿物质仅占典型人类饮食的5%，但对维持健康与生理功能至关重要。铜作为一种微量元素，在工业化国家的典型饮食中，其人体肠道吸收率为30%-40%。肝脏产生的金属硫蛋白可储存铜元素。铜对线粒体呼吸、色素沉着、铁转运、抗氧化防御、激素生成及细胞外基质生物合成具有关键作用。由ATP7A基因突变引起的铜缺乏症可导致门克斯病——一种X连锁隐性遗传病。相反，威尔逊病的特征则是铜的毒性蓄积。铜死亡作为一种由铜调控的特殊细胞死亡形式，是通过增强线粒体代谢和细胞内铜积累诱导的坏死亚型。该过程可通过抑制葡萄糖代谢降低肿瘤细胞的恶性潜能。在治疗方面，铜及其复合物已显示出对恶性肿瘤的治疗效果。铜稳态失衡与过度铜增殖在结直肠癌的发生发展和转移过程中具有重要意义。因此，调控铜状态为结直肠癌提供了潜在治疗靶点，可通过铜螯合剂抑制铜形成，或利用铜离子载体促进铜死亡。本综述系统阐述了铜在人体生理与病理中的作用，重点探讨其对结直肠癌的影响及潜在治疗策略。未来基于人工智能的方法有望加速针对结直肠癌铜死亡及铜稳态失衡的新型化合物研发进程。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家