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Adrenomedullin and cancer

E Zudaire1, A Martínez, F Cuttitta

  • 1Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 13N262, Bethesda MD 20892, USA. zudairee@mail.nih.gov

Regulatory Peptides
|April 2, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a hormone involved in various diseases, including cancer. This study highlights AM

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Adrenomedullin (AM) is a pluripotent hormone with diverse physiological effects.
  • AM shares structural similarities with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).
  • AM is implicated in various pathologies, notably cardiovascular disorders, sepsis, inflammation, diabetes, and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Adrenomedullin (AM) in cancer progression.
  • To explore AM's function in tumor microenvironments, particularly under hypoxia.
  • To identify AM's autocrine loop as a potential therapeutic target for human cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Adrenomedullin (AM) and its role in carcinogenesis.
  • Analysis of AM's expression and function in various tumor types.
  • Examination of AM's interaction with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and its angiogenic properties.

Main Results:

  • AM is expressed in various tumors, promoting malignant cell growth and aggressive phenotypes.
  • AM acts as an apoptosis survival factor for cancer cells.
  • AM is upregulated under hypoxia via HIF-1, promoting angiogenesis and tumor neovascularization.
  • AM indirectly suppresses immune response through complement factor H and cytokine regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Adrenomedullin (AM) is a significant regulator of carcinogenesis and tumor progression.
  • AM's role in promoting tumor growth, survival, and angiogenesis makes it a key factor in cancer development.
  • Targeting the AM autocrine loop presents a promising strategy for novel anti-cancer therapies.

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