Metabolic regulation of tumor cells exposed to different oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) are a class of polycyclic aromatic derivatives with oxygen-containing functional groups that induce oxidative stress and mutations. However, studies of the carcinogenic and metabolic effects of OPAHs are limited. In this study, we analyzed the carcinogenic effects of four different OPAHs and found that 9-fluorenone (FLO), 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ), and 7,12-benz(a)anthraquinone (BAQ) promoted cell invasion and metastasis via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and induced endothelial cell angiogenesis by affecting the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin (ANG), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), whereas 1,8-naphthalic anhydride (NAD) did not show significant carcinogenic effects. In addition, combined with metabolomic analysis, we found that the tumor-promoting effects of different OPAHs were related to their effects on the metabolome, especially the metabolism of glutathione related to oxidative stress. These results provide an experimental basis for studying the carcinogenic and metabolic effects of OPAHs, and an important reference for comprehensively assessing the ecological and health risks of this compounds.