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ING proteins as potential anticancer drug targets

M Unoki1, K Kumamoto, C C Harris

  • 1Laboratory for Biomarker, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, RIKEN, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.

Current Drug Targets
|May 16, 2009
PubMed

Insights

ING2, initially thought to be a tumor suppressor, acts as an oncogene in some cancers. Targeting ING2 may offer a novel anticancer therapy by inhibiting cancer cell invasion and promoting apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • ING family proteins have dual roles in carcinogenesis, acting as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.
  • Previous studies suggested ING proteins were tumor suppressors due to their ability to induce apoptosis or cell cycle arrest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the dual role of ING2 in cancer, focusing on its oncogenic functions and potential as a therapeutic target.
  • To discuss the clinical implications of targeting ING2 in molecular targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent evidence on ING2 function, including knockdown experiments and isoform analysis.
  • Analysis of ING2 expression in colorectal cancer and its role in invasion via MMP13.

Main Results:

  • ING2 knockdown induces senescence in normal cells and suppresses cancer cell growth.
  • ING2 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer, promoting invasion through MMP13.
  • Both ING2a and ING2b isoforms confer resistance to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • ING2 functions as an oncogene in specific cancer types, contradicting earlier suppressor gene hypotheses.
  • Knockdown of ING2 inhibits cancer cell invasion and induces apoptosis, identifying it as a potential anticancer drug target.
  • Targeting ING2 offers a promising strategy for molecular targeted cancer therapies.

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