Membrane rafts as a novel target in cancer therapy.
Membrane rafts are distinct plasma membrane microdomains that are enriched in sphingolipids and cholesterol. They organize receptors and their downstream molecules and regulate a number of intracellular signaling pathways. This review presents information on the dependence of several growth factor receptor signaling pathways on membrane rafts. It also discusses the involvement of rafts in the regulation of differentiation, apoptosis and cell migration connected with invasiveness and metastasis. Examples of known synthetic and naturally occurring substances that are known to affect lateral membrane organization in tumor cell growth are discussed as potential or actual therapeutics.
University of Wrocław, Biotechnology Faculty, Wrocław, Poland.
Anita
A
Hryniewicz-Jankowska
Medical University of Wrocław, Department of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery, Wrocław, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Augoff
University of Wrocław, Biotechnology Faculty, Wrocław, Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Biernatowska
University of Wrocław, Biotechnology Faculty, Wrocław, Poland.
Joanna
J
Podkalicka
University of Wrocław, Biotechnology Faculty, Wrocław, Poland. Electronic address: afsbc@ibmb.uni.wroc.pl.
Aleksander F
AF
Sikorski
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction
Apoptosis; Cancer therapy; Cholesterol; Growth factor receptor signaling; Membrane rafts; Neoplasia