Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer
06:51

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Published on: July 21, 2018

Proline-directed protein kinase FA as a new signal transducing target for lethal cancer treatment

Shiaw-Der Yang1

  • 1Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China. lsysd@life.nthu.edu.tw

Drug News & Perspectives
|December 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Proline-directed protein kinase F(A) (PDPK F(A)) drives lethal cancer progression and metastasis. Suppressing PDPK F(A) may enhance cancer treatment efficacy and patient survival.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Proline-directed protein kinase F(A) (PDPK F(A)) is crucial for malignant phenotypes and cancer progression.
  • Overexpressed PDPK F(A) correlates with aggressive cancer cells and poor patient prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of PDPK F(A) in cancer development and progression.
  • To explore PDPK F(A) as a potential therapeutic target for lethal malignancies.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical, immunocytochemical, and clinicopathologic studies.
  • Antisense gene therapeutic studies to suppress PDPK F(A) expression.

Main Results:

  • Overexpressed PDPK F(A) is associated with aggressive malignant cells in various cancers.
  • PDPK F(A) is essential for metastasis, dissemination, splenomegaly, and chemo-radiotherapy resistance.
  • Suppression of PDPK F(A) inhibited cancer progression and enhanced chemo-radiosensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • PDPK F(A) is a key driver of lethal cancer progression and metastasis.
  • Targeting PDPK F(A) offers a promising strategy to improve treatment outcomes for advanced cancers.
  • Inhibiting PDPK F(A) may synergize with existing therapies to improve survival rates.

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
Protein Networks02:26

Protein Networks

An organism can have thousands of different proteins, and these proteins must cooperate to ensure the health of an organism. Proteins bind to other proteins and form complexes to carry out their functions. Many proteins interact with multiple other proteins creating a complex network of protein interactions.
These interactions can be represented through maps depicting protein-protein interaction networks, represented as nodes and edges. Nodes are circles that are representative of a protein,...