Targeting the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway for cancer treatment.
The action of L-arginine is mainly dependent on its end-product, nitric oxide (NO). The L-arginine/NO pathway has been confirmed to play an important role in tumor development. Recent findings indicate that NO derived from L-arginine could influence angiogenesis factors, vascular permeability, perivascular-cell recruitment and vessel remodeling and maturation. Additionally, the L-arginine/NO pathway could activate a broad array of genes that are functionally involved in proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis. Interestingly, this pathway plays roles in both tumorigensis and tumor killing. The role of the L-arginine/NO pathway in tumor therapy has been well-studied. Members of this pathway have been reported to be promising therapeutic molecules in tumor therapy. This review article summarizes research data on the roles of the L-arginine/NO pathway in cancer biology and cancer therapy.
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. qyma56@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Qingyong
Q
Ma
Zheng
Z
Wang
Min
M
Zhang
Hengtong
H
Hu
Junhui
J
Li
Dong
D
Zhang
Kun
K
Guo
Huanchen
H
Sha
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase