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Utilization of Glycosaminoglycans/Proteoglycans as Carriers for Targeted Therapy Delivery

Suniti Misra1, Vincent C Hascall2, Ilia Atanelishvili3

  • 1Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.

International Journal of Cell Biology
|October 9, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular matrix (ECM) components like glycosaminoglycans influence cancer cell signaling and invasion. Targeting hyaluronan (HA) and its receptor CD44 offers potential for new cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cancer treatment advances include targeting cell surface receptors and extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules.
  • The ECM, composed of collagens and glycosaminoglycans, influences tissue architecture and cancer progression.
  • Cancer cells employ oncogenic strategies to interfere with ECM interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how ECM components, specifically proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, affect tumor cell signaling.
  • To detail the impact of glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA) and its receptor CD44 on tumor cell invasion.
  • To provide insights for developing novel cancer therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on ECM components and their role in cancer.
  • Analysis of studies investigating hyaluronan (HA) and CD44 interactions in tumor progression.
  • Synthesis of information on therapeutic targeting of ECM-cell signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans significantly influence tumor cell signaling pathways.
  • Hyaluronan (HA) and its receptor CD44 play a critical role in promoting cancer cell invasion.
  • Understanding these interactions is key to identifying new therapeutic targets.

Conclusions:

  • Modulating ECM components presents a promising avenue for cancer therapy.
  • Targeting the hyaluronan (HA)-CD44 axis can inhibit tumor cell invasiveness.
  • Further research into ECM-cancer cell crosstalk will enhance treatment strategies.

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