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Protein kinase CK2 as regulator of cell survival: implications for cancer therapy

G M Unger1, A T Davis, J W Slaton

  • 1Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, Research Laboratory (151), Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|February 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase 2) is elevated in cancers and promotes cell survival. Inhibiting CK2 with antisense strategies induces apoptosis, suggesting its potential as a cancer therapy target.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Protein kinase CK2 (CK2) is a conserved enzyme involved in cell growth and survival.
  • CK2 plays a critical role in suppressing apoptosis (programmed cell death).
  • Elevated CK2 levels are a common characteristic of various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate protein kinase CK2 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
  • To investigate the role of CK2 in cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis suppression.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of CK2 expression in cancerous versus normal cells.
  • Treatment of cells with antisense CK2 to disrupt its function.
  • Assessment of apoptosis induction in response to CK2 inhibition.

Main Results:

  • CK2 is upregulated in all examined cancer types.
  • Disruption of CK2 using antisense oligonucleotides induces apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
  • Modest deregulation of CK2 expression confers potent oncogenic potential.

Conclusions:

  • Down-regulation of CK2 holds promise for cancer therapy.
  • Targeting CK2 with antisense strategies in vivo could be a viable therapeutic approach.
  • CK2 inhibition represents a potential strategy to induce cancer cell death.

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