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Integrins as attractive targets for cancer therapeutics

Meng Li1, Ying Wang2, Mengwei Li2

  • 1Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for Research on Quality and Standardization of Biotech Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, China.

Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. B
|September 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Integrins are key cell receptors involved in cancer progression. Targeting integrins with specific drugs shows promise for effective anti-cancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Integrins are transmembrane receptors mediating cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions.
  • These interactions are crucial in physiological and pathological processes, including cancer metastasis.
  • Dysregulated integrin activity contributes to tumor progression and spread.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the contribution of integrins to cancer biology.
  • To summarize current clinical strategies targeting integrins for cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on integrins in cancer.
  • Analysis of clinical data on integrin-targeted cancer therapies.

Main Results:

  • Integrins play a significant role in tumor progression, metastasis, and angiogenesis.
  • Integrin antagonists, including antibodies and peptides, have demonstrated clinical efficacy.
  • Targeting specific integrins offers a viable strategy for novel cancer treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Integrins are critical regulators of cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting integrins represents a promising therapeutic avenue in oncology.
  • Further research into integrin-targeting agents may lead to improved cancer treatments.
Keywords:
ADAMs, adisintegrin and metalloproteasesAJ, adherens junctionsAntagonistsCAFs, cancer-associated fibroblastsCAR, chimeric antigen receptorCRC, colorectal cancerCSC, cancer stem cellClinical trialECM, extracellular matrixEGFR, epidermal growth factor receptorEMT, epithelial–mesenchymal transitionERK, extracellular regulated kinaseExtracellular matrixFAK, focal adhesion kinaseFDA, U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationHIF-1α, hypoxia-inducible factor-1αHUVECs, human umbilical vein endothelial cellsICAMs, intercellular adhesion moleculesIGFR, insulin-like growth factor receptorIMD, integrin-mediated deathIntegrinsJNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase 16MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinaseMMP2, matrix metalloprotease 2NF-κB, nuclear factor-κBNSCLC, non-small cell lung cancerPDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptorPI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinaseRGD, Arg-Gly-AspRTKs, receptor tyrosine kinasesSAPKs, stress-activated MAP kinasesSDF-1, stromal cell-derived factor-1SH2, Src homology 2STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3TCGA, The Cancer Genome AtlasTICs, tumor initiating cellsTNF, tumor necrosis factorTargeted drugTumor progressionVCAMs, vascular cell adhesion moleculesVEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptormAb, monoclonal antibodiessdCAR-T, switchable dual-receptor CAR-engineered TsiRNA, small interference RNAuPA, urokinase-type plasminogen activator

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