Heparanase as a therapeutic target for mitigating cancer progression

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, with current treatments facing challenges like drug resistance and toxicity.
• Heparanase, an enzyme degrading heparan sulfate, significantly contributes to tumor invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the discovery, structure, and function of heparanase in normal and cancerous cells.
• To explore various classes of heparanase inhibitors and their therapeutic potential in cancer.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on heparanase biology and inhibitor development.
• Analysis of different inhibitor classes: nucleic acid-based, polysulfated saccharides, vaccines, miRNA, monoclonal antibodies, natural compounds, and small molecules.
• Examination of clinical trial advancements and patented heparanase inhibitors.

Main Results:

• Heparanase plays a critical role in multiple stages of cancer progression.
• Diverse classes of heparanase inhibitors exhibit potential anti-cancer effects through various mechanisms.
• Several heparanase inhibitors have advanced to clinical trials, indicating therapeutic promise and commercial viability.

Conclusions:

• Inhibiting heparanase presents a promising therapeutic strategy to combat cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis.
• Continued development of heparanase inhibitors is crucial for advancing future cancer treatment landscapes.