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Grech G, Baldacchino S, Saliba C, Grixti MP, Gauci R, Petroni V, Fenech AG, Scerri C. Deregulation of the protein phosphatase 2A, PP2A in cancer: complexity and therapeutic options. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:11691-11700. [PMID: 27444275 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5145-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The complexity of the phosphatase, PP2A, is being unravelled and current research is increasingly providing information on the association of deregulated PP2A function with cancer initiation and progression. It has been reported that decreased activity of PP2A is a recurrent observation in many types of cancer, including colorectal and breast cancer (Baldacchino et al. EPMA J. 5:3, 2014; Cristobal et al. Mol Cancer Ther. 13:938-947, 2014). Since deregulation of PP2A and its regulatory subunits is a common event in cancer, PP2A is a potential target for therapy (Baldacchino et al. EPMA J. 5:3, 2014). In this review, the structural components of the PP2A complex are described, giving an in depth overview of the diversity of regulatory subunits. Regulation of the active PP2A trimeric complex, through phosphorylation and methylation, can be targeted using known compounds, to reactivate the complex. The endogenous inhibitors of the PP2A complex are highly deregulated in cancer, representing cases that are eligible to PP2A-activating drugs. Pharmacological opportunities to target low PP2A activity are available and preclinical data support the efficacy of these drugs, but clinical trials are lacking. We highlight the importance of PP2A deregulation in cancer and the current trends in targeting the phosphatase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Grech
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Medical School, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2090, Malta.
| | - Shawn Baldacchino
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Medical School, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2090, Malta
| | - Christian Saliba
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Maria Pia Grixti
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Medical School, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2090, Malta
| | - Robert Gauci
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Medical School, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2090, Malta
| | - Vanessa Petroni
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Anthony G Fenech
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Christian Scerri
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.,Molecular Genetics Clinic, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
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