Frontiers in Medical Science Research, 2026, 8(3); doi: 10.25236/FMSR.2026.080306.
Lei Peng1,2, Lu Yueyue1
1The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434000, China
2School of Clinical Medicine, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434000, China
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumors of the hepatobiliary system, characterized by a complex pathogenesis and limited treatment options, leading to generally poor patient prognosis. In recent years, the role of metabolic reprogramming in tumor development has become a research hotspot, with increasing attention on the regulatory mechanisms of acetylation modifications mediated by acetyl-CoA in cholangiocarcinoma. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanisms of acetylation modifications in cholangiocarcinoma, including the metabolic pathways of acetyl-CoA and its interactions with other metabolic networks, as well as its regulatory effects on malignant phenotypes such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Additionally, the critical role of acetylation modifications in reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment and the formation of treatment resistance is emphasized. Furthermore, this article summarizes the clinical application value of acetylation-based biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of cholangiocarcinoma, along with the latest research progress on targeted acetylation treatment strategies, providing new insights and potential intervention targets for the precise diagnosis and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.
Cholangiocarcinoma; Acetylation; Acetyl-CoA; Metabolic Reprogramming; Targeted Therapy
Lei Peng, Lu Yueyue. Research on Acetylation Modifications in the Occurrence, Development, and Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma. Frontiers in Medical Science Research (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 3: 41-47. https://doi.org/10.25236/FMSR.2026.080306.
[1] Qurashi M, Vithayathil M, Khan S A. Epidemiology of cholangiocarcinoma[J]. European Journal of Surgical Oncology: The Journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology, 2025, 51(2): 107064.
[2] Jensen M D, West J, Weber B, et al. Cholangiocarcinoma in denmark: Time-trends in incidence and mortality[J]. JHEP Reports, 2025, 7(9): 101493.
[3] Gad M M, Saad A M, Faisaluddin M, et al. Epidemiology of cholangiocarcinoma; united states incidence and mortality trends[J]. Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology, 2020, 44(6): 885-893.
[4] Da Fonseca L G, Hashizume P H, de Oliveira I S, et al. Association between metabolic disorders and cholangiocarcinoma: Impact of a postulated risk factor with rising incidence[J]. Cancers, 2022, 14(14): 3483.
[5] Kumar D, Bansal V, Raza S A, et al. Widening health disparities: Increasing cholangiocarcinoma incidence in an underserved population[J]. Gastro Hep Advances, 2022, 1(2): 180-185.
[6] Kumagai S. Mini-review: Occupational health topics series on the effects of chemicals. Occupational cholangiocarcinoma incident[J]. Journal of Occupational Health, 2025, 67(1): uiaf001.
[7] Guertin, D. A., & Wellen, K. E. (2023). Acetyl-CoA metabolism in cancer. Nature reviews. Cancer, 23(3), 156–172. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-022-00543-5
[8] Chen G, Bao B, Cheng Y, et al. Acetyl-CoA metabolism as a therapeutic target for cancer[J]. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2023, 168: 115741.
[9] Shvedunova M, Akhtar A. Modulation of cellular processes by histone and non-histone protein acetylation[J]. Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology, 2022, 23(5): 329-349.
[10] Hao Y, Yi Q, XiaoWu X, et al. Acetyl-CoA: An interplay between metabolism and epigenetics in cancer[J]. Frontiers in Molecular Medicine, 2022, 2: 1044585.
[11] Guertin D A, Wellen K E. Acetyl-CoA metabolism in cancer[J]. Nature reviews. Cancer, 2023, 23(3): 156-172.
[12] He W, Li Q, Li X. Acetyl-CoA regulates lipid metabolism and histone acetylation modification in cancer[J]. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer, 2023, 1878(1): 188837.
[13] Saisomboon S, Kariya R, Mahalapbutr P, et al. Augmented global protein acetylation diminishes cell growth and migration of cholangiocarcinoma cells[J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024, 25(18): 10170.
[14] Zhou X, Zhou Y, Shao W, et al. ACOT12-mediated acetyl-CoA hydrolysis suppresses intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma metastasis by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition[J]. Journal of Cancer, 2022, 13(6): 1734-1744.
[15] Saisomboon S, Kariya R, Boonnate P, et al. Diminishing acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 attenuates CCA migration via AMPK-NF-κB-snail axis[J]. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2023, 1869(5): 166694.
[16] Pan Y, Zhang N, Fu X, et al. Pharmacological induction of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 autophagic degradation attenuates lipid accumulation and cholangiocarcinoma progression[J]. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR, 2025, 44: 310.
[17] Yang G, Yuan Y, Yuan H, et al. Histone acetyltransferase 1 is a succinyltransferase for histones and non‐histones and promotes tumorigenesis[J]. EMBO Reports, 2021, 22(2): e50967.
[18] Zhang Y, Yan M, Yu Y, et al. 14–3-3ε: A protein with complex physiology function but promising therapeutic potential in cancer[J]. Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS, 2024, 22: 72.
[19] Fan K, Zhu K, Wang J, et al. Inhibition of 14-3-3ε by K50 acetylation activates YAP1 to promote cholangiocarcinoma growth[J]. Experimental Cell Research, 2022, 421(2): 113404.
[20] Li Y, Zheng J, Huo Q, et al. Chidamide suppresses the growth of cholangiocarcinoma by inhibiting HDAC3 and promoting FOXO1 acetylation[J]. Stem Cells International, 2022, 2022: 3632549.
[21] Deng L, Bao W, Zhang B, et al. AZGP1 activation by lenvatinib suppresses intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma epithelial-mesenchymal transition through the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway[J]. Cell Death & Disease, 2023, 14(9): 590.
[22] Kim C, Lee S, Kim D, et al. Blockade of GRP78 translocation to the cell surface by HDAC6 inhibition suppresses proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells[J]. Anticancer Research, 2022, 42(1): 471-482.
[23] Yang G, Yuan Y, Yuan H, et al. Histone acetyltransferase 1 is a succinyltransferase for histones and non‐histones and promotes tumorigenesis[J]. EMBO Reports, 2021, 22(2): e50967.
[24] Ling R, Chen G, Tang X, et al. Acetyl-CoA synthetase 2(ACSS2): A review with a focus on metabolism and tumor development[J]. Discover. Oncology, 2022, 13: 58.
[25] Yu X, Zhu L, Wang T, et al. Immune microenvironment of cholangiocarcinoma: Biological concepts and treatment strategies[J]. Frontiers in Immunology, 2023, 14: 1037945.
[26] Ricci A D, Rizzo A, Schirizzi A, et al. Tumor immune microenvironment in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Regulatory mechanisms, functions, and therapeutic implications[J]. Cancers, 2024, 16(20): 3542.
[27] Guo Y, Li Q, Ye Q, et al. Construction and drug screening of co-culture system using extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma organoids and tumor-associated macrophages[J]. Heliyon, 2024, 10(17): e36377.
[28] Zheng Q, Zhang B, Li C, et al. Overcome drug resistance in cholangiocarcinoma: New insight into mechanisms and refining the preclinical experiment models[J]. Frontiers in Oncology, 2022, 12: 850732.
[29] Alobuia W M, Pawlik T M. Recent advances in the management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: The role of actionable mutations and targeted therapies[J]. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 2025, 25(12): 1391-1404.
[30] Wu Q, Zhen Y, Shi L, et al. EGFR inhibition potentiates FGFR inhibitor therapy and overcomes resistance in FGFR2 fusion-positive cholangiocarcinoma[J]. Cancer discovery, 2022, 12(5): 1378-1395.
[31] Wu D, Liao G, Yao Y, et al. Downregulated acetyl-CoA acyltransferase 2 promoted the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and participated in the formation of immunosuppressive microenvironment[J]. Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, 2023, 10: 1327-1339.
[32] He W, Li Q, Li X. Acetyl-CoA regulates lipid metabolism and histone acetylation modification in cancer[J]. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer, 2023, 1878(1): 188837.
[33] Carmona B, Marinho H S, Matos C L, et al. Tubulin post-translational modifications: The elusive roles of acetylation[J]. Biology, 2023, 12(4): 561.
[34] Ma W, Zhang J, Chen W, et al. The histone lysine acetyltransferase KAT2B inhibits cholangiocarcinoma growth: Evidence for interaction with SP1 to regulate NF2-YAP signaling[J]. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR, 2024, 43: 117.
[35] Zhang D, Tang Z, Huang H, et al. Metabolic regulation of gene expression by histone lactylation[J]. Nature, 2019, 574(7779): 575-580.
[36] Ding P, Ma Z, Liu D, et al. Lysine acetylation/deacetylation modification of immune-related molecules in cancer immunotherapy[J]. Frontiers in Immunology, 2022, 13: 865975.
[37] Lin T, Yang W qi, Luo W wei, et al. Disturbance of fatty acid metabolism promoted vascular endothelial cell senescence via acetyl‐CoA‐induced protein acetylation modification[J]. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2022, 2022(1): 1198607.
[38] Zhao Z, Wu Y, Cheng F, et al. High levels of histone acetylation modifications promote the formation of PGCs[J]. Poultry Science, 2025, 104(2): 104763.
[39] Wang W, Sun Y, Liu X, et al. Dual-targeted therapy circumvents non-genetic drug resistance to targeted therapy[J]. Frontiers in Oncology, 2022, 12: 859455.
[40] Swindale L Y, Stevens A J, Whalley S J, et al. Predictive liver lipid biomarker signature of acetyl-coenzyme a carboxylase inhibitor related developmental toxicity in non-pregnant female han wistar rats – lipidomics biomarker discovery and validation[J]. Toxicology Letters, 2023, 380: 62-68.