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Targeting monoamine oxidases in cancer: advances and opportunities
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99223, USA.
Abstract:
Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are a crucial pair of isoenzymes responsible for degrading monoamine neurotransmitters and dietary amines. In addition to extensive studies of their roles in the context of brain functions and disorders over decades, emerging evidence indicates that MAOs are also often dysregulated and associated with clinical outcomes in diverse cancers, with the ability to differentially regulate cancer growth, invasion, metastasis, progression, and therapy response depending on the cancer type. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the clinical relevance, functional importance, and mechanisms of MAOs in a broad range of cancers, and discuss the application and therapeutic benefit of MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) for cancer treatment, highlighting the roles of MAOs as novel regulators, prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in cancer.
Insights
Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are enzymes increasingly linked to cancer. This review explores their roles in cancer progression and therapeutic potential, highlighting MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) as promising cancer treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are key enzymes involved in neurotransmitter metabolism.
- MAOs are increasingly recognized for their dysregulation and association with clinical outcomes in various cancers.
- Their roles extend beyond the brain, influencing cancer growth, invasion, metastasis, and therapy response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in understanding the clinical relevance, functional importance, and mechanisms of MAOs in diverse cancers.
- To discuss the therapeutic applications and benefits of MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) for cancer treatment.
- To highlight MAOs as potential novel regulators, prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific advances.
- Synthesis of information on MAO functions in cancer.
- Discussion of MAO inhibitor applications in cancer therapy.
Main Results:
- MAOs play differential roles in regulating cancer progression across various cancer types.
- MAO dysregulation is associated with significant clinical outcomes in cancer patients.
- MAO inhibitors (MAOIs) show therapeutic potential in preclinical and clinical cancer studies.
Conclusions:
- MAOs are critical regulators of cancer biology with significant clinical implications.
- MAOs represent promising novel therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for cancer treatment.
- Targeting MAOs with MAOIs offers a potential strategy for improving cancer therapy outcomes.
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