Protein kinase A as a biological target in cancer therapy.
BACKGROUND
cAMP is a second messenger that plays a role in intracellular signal transduction of various stimuli. a major function of cAMP in eukaryotes is activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). PKA is the best understood member of the serine-threonine protein kinase superfamily, and is involved in the control of a variety of cellular processes. since it has been implicated in the initiation and progression of many tumors, PKA has been suggested as a novel molecular target for cancer therapy.


OBJECTIVE
Here, after describing some features of cAMP/PKA signaling that are relevant to cancer biology, we review targeting of PKA in cancer therapy, also discussing PKA as a biomarker for cancer detection and monitoring of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
PKA is an increasingly relevant biological target in the therapy and management of cancer.
Naviglio
Silvio
S
Second University of Naples, Medical School, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy. silvio.naviglio@unina2.it
Caraglia
Michele
M
Abbruzzese
Alberto
A
Chiosi
Emilio
E
Di Gesto
Davide
D
Marra
Monica
M
Romano
Maria
M
Sorrentino
Annunziata
A
Sorvillo
Luca
L
Spina
Annamaria
A
Illiano
Gennaro
G
D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases