The Role of Epac in Cancer Progression

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Adnan Badran¹  Firas Kobeissy²  Elias Baydoun³  Joelle Mesmar³  Nadine Wehbe³  Gianfranco Pintus⁴  AliH. Eid⁵  Hasan Slika⁵  SuzanneA. Nasser⁶  Serine Baydoun⁷ 

[1] Department of Basic Sciences, University of Petra, P.O. Box 961343, Amman 11196, Jordan;Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon;Department of Biology, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Beirut, Lebanon;Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272 Sharjah, UAE;Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Beirut, Lebanon;Department of Pharmacology, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Beirut, Lebanon;Department of Radiology, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236 Beirut, Lebanon;

关键词: Epac;    cancer;    reactive oxygen species (ROS);    cAMP;    PKA;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms21186489

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Cancer continues to be a prime contributor to global mortality. Despite tremendous research efforts and major advances in cancer therapy, much remains to be learned about the underlying molecular mechanisms of this debilitating disease. A better understanding of the key signaling events driving the malignant phenotype of cancer cells may help identify new pharmaco-targets. Cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) modulates a plethora of biological processes, including those that are characteristic of malignant cells. Over the years, most cAMP-mediated actions were attributed to the activity of its effector protein kinase A (PKA). However, studies have revealed an important role for the exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac) as another effector mediating the actions of cAMP. In cancer, Epac appears to have a dual role in regulating cellular processes that are essential for carcinogenesis. In addition, the development of Epac modulators offered new routes to further explore the role of this cAMP effector and its downstream pathways in cancer. In this review, the potentials of Epac as an attractive target in the fight against cancer are depicted. Additionally, the role of Epac in cancer progression, namely its effect on cancer cell proliferation, migration/metastasis, and apoptosis, with the possible interaction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these phenomena, is discussed with emphasis on the underlying mechanisms and pathways.

【 授权许可】

Unknown