title: The translocator protein (TSPO): a novel target for cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: The translocator protein (TSPO) is an 18 kDa transmembrane protein primarily found in the outer mitochondrial membrane where it forms a key part of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). Omnipresent in almost all tissues, TSPO up-regulation has been connected to neuronal damage and inflammation, making the protein an important bio-imaging marker for disease progression. More recently, TSPO has attracted attention as a possible molecular target for tumour imaging and chemotherapy. In this review we summarize TSPO's molecular characteristics and highlight research progress in recent years in the field of TSPO-targeted cancer diagnostics and treatments.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher J D
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kahlert
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kassiou
authors.forename: Louis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rendina
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D018079:Receptors, GABA; C499229:TSPO protein, human