Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
07:48
Utilizing Functional Genomics Screening to Identify Potentially Novel Drug Targets in Cancer Cell Spheroid Cultures
Published on: December 26, 2016
Downregulating sphingosine kinase-1 for cancer therapy.
1Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, CNRS UMR 5089, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 4, France. olivier.cuvillier@ipbs.fr
Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets
|July 16, 2008
Summary
Targeting sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1), an oncogene that promotes cancer cell survival, offers a promising therapeutic strategy. Inhibiting SK1 demonstrates potential for effectively killing cancer cells with a favorable therapeutic index.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Sphingolipids, including ceramide and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), regulate cell death and proliferation.
- Sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) governs the balance between these sphingolipids, producing pro-survival S1P.
- SK1 is an oncogene overexpressed in tumors, protecting cancer cells from apoptosis and being downregulated by therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in targeting sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) for cancer therapy.
- To discuss available pharmacological tools for manipulating SK1 activity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on sphingosine kinase-1 in cancer.
- Analysis of pharmacological agents targeting SK1.
Main Results:
- Strong evidence supports the validity of targeting SK1 to induce cancer cell death.
- SK1 inhibition presents a potential therapeutic strategy with a favorable therapeutic index.
Conclusions:
- Strategies inhibiting sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) are validated for cancer treatment.
- SK1 inhibition shows promise as a therapeutic approach with a good safety profile.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:34Inhibition of Cdk Activity
The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
02:49Cancer Therapies
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:57Targeted 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...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:15Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
03:03mTOR 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...
The mTOR pathway or the...
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as SH2...