title: Protein kinase A as a biological target in cancer therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Second University of Naples, Medical School, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy. silvio.naviglio@unina2.it
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naviglio
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caraglia
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiosi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Gesto
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorvillo
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Illiano
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases