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

Inside the human cancer tyrosine phosphatome

Sofi G Julien1, Nadia Dubé, Serge Hardy

  • 1Goodman Cancer Research Centre, Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Nature Reviews. Cancer
|December 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) counteract kinases in cell signaling. While some PTPs act as tumor suppressors, others promote cancer, highlighting their complex roles and potential as therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are enzymes that remove phosphate groups from proteins.
  • PTPs counteract the action of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), which are involved in cellular signaling pathways.
  • The role of PTPs in cancer is complex, with some acting as tumor suppressors and others as oncogenes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the dual role of PTPs in cancer.
  • To highlight the significance of PTPs in human tumors based on recent genetic analyses.
  • To discuss the potential of PTPs as therapeutic targets in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent large-scale genetic analyses of human tumors.
  • Analysis of existing research on PTP regulation and function in cancer.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles of PTPs.

Main Results:

  • PTPs play a critical role in regulating cell growth and signaling.
  • Genetic analyses reveal PTPs are frequently implicated in various human cancers.
  • Evidence supports both tumor-suppressive and oncogenic functions for different PTP members.

Conclusions:

  • PTPs are key regulators of cellular processes relevant to cancer.
  • Understanding the specific roles of PTPs in different cancers is crucial.
  • PTPs represent promising therapeutic targets for cancer intervention.

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