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Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Assessing Cellular Target Engagement by SHP2 PTPN11 Phosphatase Inhibitors
Published on: July 17, 2020
SHP2: A Pleiotropic Target at the Interface of Cancer and Its Microenvironment
Nicole M Sodir1, Gaurav Pathria2, Joanne I Adamkewicz3
1Department of Translational Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California.
Abstract:
The protein phosphatase SHP2/PTPN11 has been reported to be a key modulator of proliferative pathways in a wide range of malignancies. Intriguingly, SHP2 has also been described as a critical regulator of the tumor microenvironment. Based on this evidence SHP2 is considered a multifaceted target in cancer, spurring the notion that the development of direct inhibitors of SHP2 would provide the twofold benefit of tumor intrinsic and extrinsic inhibition. In this review, we will discuss the role of SHP2 in cancer and the tumor microenvironment, and the clinical strategies in which SHP2 inhibitors are leveraged as combination agents to improve therapeutic response.
Significance:
The SHP2 phosphatase functions as a pleiotropic factor, and its inhibition not only hinders tumor growth but also reshapes the tumor microenvironment. Although their single-agent activity may be limited, SHP2 inhibitors hold the potential of being key combination agents to enhance the depth and the durability of tumor response to therapy.
Insights
Protein phosphatase SHP2 (PTPN11) is a key target in cancer, impacting both tumor growth and the tumor microenvironment. SHP2 inhibitors offer dual benefits, inhibiting cancer intrinsically and extrinsically, and are promising combination agents.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- SHP2 (PTPN11) is a protein phosphatase regulating proliferative pathways in various cancers.
- SHP2 also plays a critical role in modulating the tumor microenvironment.
- This dual function positions SHP2 as a multifaceted target for cancer therapy.
Conclusions:
- SHP2 is a critical regulator of cancer proliferation and the tumor microenvironment.
- SHP2 inhibitors offer a promising therapeutic strategy, particularly in combination regimens.
- Targeting SHP2 can enhance the depth and durability of responses to cancer therapy.
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