Targeting Eph/ephrin system in cancer therapy.
Alessio Lodola1, Carmine Giorgio1, Matteo Incerti1
1Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/a, 43124 Parma, Italy.
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
|August 7, 2017
Summary
The Eph/ephrin system, crucial in development, is deregulated in many cancers. Targeting this system with drugs shows promise in reducing tumor growth and metastasis, offering new oncology treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The Eph/ephrin signaling pathway is essential for embryonic development.
- This system is frequently overexpressed and dysregulated in various cancers, contributing to tumorigenesis and metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical findings on the Eph/ephrin signaling system as a target in molecularly targeted oncology.
- To highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting Eph/ephrin interactions in cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and clinical studies investigating Eph/ephrin system modulation in cancer models.
- Analysis of data from animal models and ongoing clinical trials involving biologicals targeting Eph/ephrin.
Main Results:
- Biological agents targeting Eph/ephrin reduce tumor growth in models of hematological malignancies, breast, prostate, colon, head and neck cancers, and glioblastoma.
- Peptides and small molecules targeting protein-protein interactions (PPI) within the Eph/ephrin system show promise in preclinical models of glioblastoma, ovarian, and lung cancer.
Conclusions:
- The Eph/ephrin signaling system represents a promising new target for molecularly targeted cancer therapy.
- Targeting Eph/ephrin with biologicals, peptides, and small molecules is advancing through preclinical and clinical development for various cancers.
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