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Updated: Sep 5, 2025

Fluorescence-based Monitoring of PAD4 Activity via a Pro-fluorescence Substrate Analog
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PAK4 in cancer development: Emerging player and therapeutic opportunities

Yixi Yuan1, Hongyan Zhang1, Danni Li2

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of the PR China, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of the PR China, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China.

Cancer Letters
|July 7, 2022
PubMed

Insights

p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is crucial in cancer development, regulating proliferation, metastasis, and immune escape. This review details PAK4

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is a serine-threonine kinase downstream of Rho GTPases.
  • PAK4 regulates cellular processes and is implicated in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a systematic overview of PAK4's role in cancer.
  • To discuss PAK4 inhibitors for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of PAK4.
  • Analysis of PAK4 structure, localization, expression, and function in cancer hallmarks.
  • Review of small molecule PAK4 inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • PAK4 is involved in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, metabolism reprogramming, and immune escape.
  • Various small molecule inhibitors targeting PAK4 have been developed.

Conclusions:

  • PAK4 is a significant factor in multiple cancer hallmarks.
  • PAK4 inhibitors show potential for individualized cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords:
Hallmarks of cancerTherapeutic targetTumor developmentp21-activated kinase 4

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