title: The calpain system and cancer.
abstract: The calpains are a conserved family of cysteine proteinases that catalyse the controlled proteolysis of many specific substrates. Calpain activity is implicated in several fundamental physiological processes, including cytoskeletal remodelling, cellular signalling, apoptosis and cell survival. Calpain expression is altered during tumorigenesis, and the proteolysis of numerous substrates, such as inhibitors of nuclear factor-κB (IκB), focal adhesion proteins (including, focal adhesion kinase and talin) and proto-oncogenes (for example, MYC), has been implicated in tumour pathogenesis. Recent evidence indicates that the increased expression of certain family members might influence the response to cancer therapies, providing justification for the development of novel calpain inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, School of Molecular Medical Sciences, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Storr
authors.forename: Neil O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Carragher
authors.forename: Margaret C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Frame
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.forename: Stewart G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D002154:Calpain / Q000502:physiology*; D016923:Cell Death; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002154:Calpain