Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 28, 2025
08:37
Fluorescence-based Monitoring of PAD4 Activity via a Pro-fluorescence Substrate Analog
Published on: November 5, 2014
10.1K
Why is PAK4 overexpressed in cancer?
Tânia D F Costa1, Staffan Strömblad1
1Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
|July 18, 2021
Summary
p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is often overexpressed in cancer, contributing to its progression. This review highlights PAK4 as a promising therapeutic target for developing novel cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Protein overexpression is a significant factor in cancer development and progression.
- p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is frequently overexpressed in various cancer types.
- PAK4 plays a crucial role in multiple cancer hallmarks, including proliferation, survival, and metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing evidence supporting the overexpression of PAK4 in cancer.
- To establish PAK4 as a viable therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating PAK4 expression in cancer.
- Analysis of research linking PAK4 activity to cancer hallmarks.
Main Results:
- Consistent findings demonstrate elevated PAK4 levels across diverse cancer malignancies.
- PAK4 overexpression correlates with aggressive cancer phenotypes and poor patient outcomes.
- PAK4's involvement in key oncogenic pathways is well-documented.
Conclusions:
- PAK4 is a validated target for cancer therapy due to its frequent overexpression and critical role in cancer.
- Targeting PAK4 offers a promising strategy for developing new anti-cancer drugs.
- Further research into PAK4 inhibitors could lead to improved cancer diagnosis and treatment modalities.
Related Concept Videos
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
4.8K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.8K
01:19Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
6.7K
Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
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...
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...
6.7K
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
4.7K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
Somatic...
4.7K
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
4.0K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.0K
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
9.4K
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
9.4K
02:38The Ras Gene
6.6K
The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a...
Ras is a...
6.6K