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Targeting Oncogenic WNT Signalling with WNT Signalling-Derived Peptides
Vikas Yadav1, Njainday Jobe1, Lubna Mehdawi1
1Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|August 29, 2021
Summary
WNT signalling plays a key role in cancer. While small molecule inhibitors have shown limited success, therapeutic peptides targeting WNT signalling offer a promising alternative for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- WNT signalling is vital for embryonic development and tissue homeostasis.
- Aberrant WNT signalling is linked to various cancers, influencing proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis.
- Current WNT-targeted therapies using small molecule inhibitors have faced challenges, including inefficient binding, compensatory mechanisms, and toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of therapeutic peptides targeting WNT signalling as an alternative cancer therapy.
- To address the limitations associated with small molecule WNT inhibitors.
- To review recent advancements in the design and characterization of WNT signalling-derived peptides for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent developments in peptide design and characterization.
- Analysis of WNT signalling pathways in cancer progression.
- Evaluation of peptide-based therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- WNT signalling is a critical regulator in cancer development and progression.
- Therapeutic peptides present a potential alternative to overcome limitations of small molecule WNT inhibitors.
- Recent research focuses on developing WNT-derived peptides for cancer therapy.
Conclusions:
- WNT signalling pathways are crucial in cancer and represent a viable therapeutic target.
- Peptide-based therapeutics targeting WNT signalling show promise for overcoming existing treatment challenges.
- Further development of WNT-derived peptides could lead to novel cancer treatments or adjuvant therapies.
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