Work

Targeting Vacuolar H+-ATPases as a New Strategy against Cancer

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: Growing evidence suggests a key role of tumor acidic microenvironment in cancer development, progression, and metastasis. As a consequence, the need for compounds that specifically target the mechanism(s) responsible for the low pH of tumors is increasing. Among the key regulators of the tumor acidic microenvironment, vacuolar H(+)-ATPases (V-ATPases) play an important role. These proteins cover a number of functions in a variety of normal as well as tumor cells, in which they pump ions across the membranes. We discuss here some recent results showing that a molecular inhibition of V-ATPases by small interfering RNA in vivo as well as a pharmacologic inhibition through proton pump inhibitors led to tumor cytotoxicity and marked inhibition of human tumor growth in xenograft models. These results propose V-ATPases as a key target for new strategies in cancer treatment.

Source: Cancer Research

DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-1805

Authors: Stefano Fais, Angelo De Milito, Haiyan You, Wenxin Qin

Institutions: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Cancer Institute

Language: English

Topic: ATP Synthase and ATPases Research

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Vetenskapsrådet, Program of Shanghai Subject Chief Scientist, National Institutes of Health