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Targeting MELK in tumor cells and tumor microenvironment: from function and mechanism to therapeutic application

Pengfei Su1,2, Qiliang Lu1, Yuanyu Wang1

  • 1Department of General Surgery, Cancer Center, Division of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310000, People's Republic of China.

Clinical & Translational Oncology : Official Publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico
|August 26, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is crucial in cancer development and the tumor microenvironment. Inhibitors targeting MELK show promise for cancer immunotherapy, warranting further research.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is an AMPK family kinase implicated in cellular regulation.
  • Aberrant MELK expression correlates with tumorigenesis and cancer progression.
  • MELK influences the tumor microenvironment (TME), impacting immune cell function and immunotherapy response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of MELK's structure, functions, and roles in cancer.
  • To review MELK-targeted agents and their development for cancer treatment.
  • To discuss future perspectives for MELK-targeted cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of MELK's involvement in cancer and TME.
  • Analysis of current MELK inhibitors in clinical trials.
  • Synthesis of information on MELK's biological functions and therapeutic potential.

Main Results:

  • MELK is structurally characterized and functionally linked to diverse cellular events.
  • MELK significantly impacts tumor progression and the TME, affecting immune responses.
  • Several small molecule MELK inhibitors are under clinical evaluation for cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding MELK's multifaceted roles is vital for advancing cancer research and therapy.
  • Targeting MELK offers a promising strategy for improving cancer treatment outcomes, particularly in combination with immunotherapy.
  • Further investigation into MELK-targeted therapies holds potential for significant clinical translation.
Keywords:
MELKTargeted therapyTumor microenvironmentTumor progression

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