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Assessing Cellular Target Engagement by SHP2 (PTPN11) Phosphatase Inhibitors
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Published on: July 17, 2020

The two faces of PTP1B in cancer

Laurent Lessard1, Matthew Stuible, Michel L Tremblay

  • 1Goodman Cancer Centre and Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, 1160 Pine Avenue, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3G 0B1.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|September 29, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) impacts metabolic signaling and cancer. Inhibiting PTP1B shows therapeutic potential for cancer, but its dual role requires further study before clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Metabolic Signaling

Background:

  • Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a key regulator of metabolic signaling pathways.
  • PTP1B has been implicated in type 2 diabetes and obesity, making it a significant drug target.
  • Emerging evidence suggests PTP1B also plays a complex role in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of PTP1B in tumorigenesis.
  • To discuss recent in vivo findings on PTP1B deficiency in cancer models.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of PTP1B inhibitors in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PTP1B's involvement in cancer.
  • Analysis of in vivo data from murine cancer models with PTP1B deficiency.
  • Discussion of PTP1B's diverse mechanisms in cancer based on substrate and cellular context.

Main Results:

  • PTP1B exhibits context-dependent effects in cancer, acting as both a tumor suppressor and promoter.
  • In vivo studies reveal the impact of PTP1B deficiency on tumor progression in mouse models.
  • The dual role of PTP1B complicates its therapeutic targeting in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • PTP1B inhibitors hold promise for cancer therapy due to their potential to modulate tumorigenesis.
  • A deeper understanding of PTP1B's specific functions in different cancer types is crucial.
  • Further research is needed to safely and effectively utilize PTP1B inhibitors in human cancer patients.

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