Assembling the puzzle of anti-cancer mechanisms triggered by cardiac glycosides.
Cardiac glycosides (CGs) are compounds used for the treatment of cardiac failure which also display strong anti-cancer activity inducing impairment of cell proliferation or activation of cell death whether by apoptosis or autophagy. Despite the fact that the sodium/potassium (Na(+)/K(+))-ATPase is a well-known target of CGs, its involvement in the anti-cancer effect of these compounds remains to be validated. Importantly, related intracellular sensor(s)/transducer(s) needs further characterization. We will discuss here key mechanisms activated by CGs including their ability to modulate the cell cycle and to regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, two so far marginally investigated events.
Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Cancer, Hôpital Kirchberg, 9, rue Edward Steichen, L-2540 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Claudia
C
Cerella
Mario
M
Dicato
Marc
M
Diederich
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase