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Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer
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Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Published on: July 21, 2018

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Molecular Pathways: Revisiting Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β as a Target for the Treatment of Cancer

Amy Walz1,2, Andrey Ugolkov2,3, Sunandana Chandra2,4

  • 1Department of Hematology/Oncology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|January 6, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a key regulator in cancer cell survival. Inhibiting GSK-3β shows promise as a therapeutic strategy for various human cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a constitutively active serine/threonine kinase regulating diverse cellular functions.
  • GSK-3β is implicated in diseases like neurodegeneration, diabetes, inflammation, and cancer.
  • GSK-3β regulates NF-κB-mediated cancer cell survival, making it a target for cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the preclinical and clinical development of GSK-3 inhibitors.
  • To evaluate the therapeutic potential of targeting GSK-3β in human cancers.
  • To highlight the role of aberrant nuclear GSK-3β accumulation in malignant tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies on GSK-3 inhibitors.
  • Analysis of GSK-3β's role in cancer cell biology and disease pathology.
  • Examination of the therapeutic impact of targeting GSK-3β in various cancers.

Main Results:

  • GSK-3β is identified as a potential therapeutic target in over 15 cancer types.
  • Aberrant nuclear accumulation of GSK-3β is a hallmark of cancer cells.
  • GSK-3 inhibitors are under active preclinical and clinical development.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting GSK-3β represents a promising therapeutic strategy for human cancers.
  • Further development of GSK-3 inhibitors could lead to novel cancer treatments.
  • Understanding GSK-3β's role in cancer pathogenesis is crucial for therapeutic advancements.

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