Targeting phosphatidylserine for Cancer therapy: prospects and challenges

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Cancer remains a major global health challenge with unmet therapeutic needs.
• Immunotherapy has advanced cancer treatment, yet patient response varies, necessitating novel strategies.
• Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid with crucial roles in cell signaling, coagulation, and immune regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the physiological and pathological roles of phosphatidylserine (PS), focusing on its immunosuppressive functions in the tumor microenvironment.
• To discuss the development and clinical investigation of PS-targeting agents for cancer therapy.
• To highlight current challenges and future research directions for PS-based cancer treatments.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of physiological and pathological roles of PS.
• Analysis of PS exposure in tumor cells and its immunosuppressive properties.
• Summary of experimental and clinical studies on PS-targeting agents.

Main Results:

• Increased PS exposure on tumor cells and their microvesicles contributes to immune suppression, promoting tumor growth and metastasis.
• PS-targeting agents are under investigation as combination therapies for various cancers.
• Emerging controversial results from laboratory and clinical studies indicate uncertainty regarding the efficiency of PS-targeting agents.

Conclusions:

• Phosphatidylserine (PS) plays a significant role in tumor-induced immunosuppression.
• Targeting PS represents a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer, but its efficacy is still under evaluation.
• Further research is needed to optimize PS-targeting agents and overcome current limitations in cancer therapy.