Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
A Proximal Culture Method to Study Paracrine Signaling Between Cells
Published on: August 28, 2018
Autocrine and paracrine purinergic signaling in the most lethal types of cancer
M Reyna-Jeldes1,2,3, M Díaz-Muñoz4, J A Madariaga1,3
1Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile.
Abstract:
Cancer comprises a collection of diseases that occur in almost any tissue and it is characterized by an abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth that results in tumor formation and propagation to other tissues, causing tissue and organ malfunction and death. Despite the undeniable improvement in cancer diagnostics and therapy, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic and preventive strategies with improved efficacy and fewer side effects. In this context, purinergic signaling emerges as an interesting candidate as a cancer biomarker or therapeutic target. There is abundant evidence that tumor cells have significant changes in the expression of purinergic receptors, which comprise the G-protein coupled P2Y and AdoR families of receptors and the ligand-gated ion channel P2X receptors. Tumor cells also exhibit changes in the expression of nucleotidases and other enzymes involved in nucleotide metabolism, and the concentrations of extracellular nucleotides are significantly higher than those observed in normal cells. In this review, we will focus on the potential role of purinergic signaling in the ten most lethal cancers (lung, breast, colorectal, liver, stomach, prostate, cervical, esophagus, pancreas, and ovary), which together are responsible for more than 5 million annual deaths.
Insights
Purinergic signaling, involving altered receptor expression and nucleotide metabolism, shows promise as a cancer biomarker and therapeutic target. This review examines its role in ten lethal cancers, highlighting potential for new treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and metastasis, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Purinergic signaling, involving purinergic receptors (P2Y, AdoR, P2X) and nucleotide metabolism, is altered in tumor cells.
- Extracellular nucleotide concentrations are elevated in cancer cells compared to normal cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of purinergic signaling as a cancer biomarker and therapeutic target.
- To explore the role of purinergic signaling in the ten most lethal cancers.
- To identify new avenues for cancer treatment and prevention.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on purinergic signaling in cancer.
- Analysis of changes in purinergic receptor expression in tumor cells.
- Examination of nucleotide metabolism alterations in cancer.
Main Results:
- Tumor cells exhibit significant changes in purinergic receptor expression.
- Alterations in nucleotidases and enzymes involved in nucleotide metabolism are observed.
- Elevated extracellular nucleotide levels are a hallmark of cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- Purinergic signaling represents a promising target for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Targeting purinergic pathways may lead to more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects.
- Further research into purinergic signaling in lethal cancers could yield significant clinical benefits.
More Related Videos
09:18Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
Published on: December 27, 2016
15:53Cell Death Associated with Abnormal Mitosis Observed by Confocal Imaging in Live Cancer Cells
Published on: August 21, 2013
Related Concept Videos
01:01Autocrine Signaling
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
01:31The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
01:19Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
01:21Paracrine Signaling
01:17The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway