title: Cancer-selective apoptosis by tumor suppressor par-4.
abstract: Tumor suppressor genes play an important role in preventing neoplastic transformation and maintaining normal tissue homeostasis. Par-4 is one such tumor suppressor which is unique in its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells while leaving the normal cells unaffected. The cancer cell specific activity of Par-4 is elicited through intracellular as well as extracellular mechanisms. Intracellularly Par-4 acts through the inhibition of pro-survival pathways and activation of Fas mediated apoptosis whereas extracellular (secreted Par-4) acts by binding to cell surface GRP78 leading to activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Many studies have highlighted the importance of Par-4 not only in preventing cancer development/recurrence but also as a promising anticancer therapeutic agent.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Combs Building Room 326, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hebbar
authors.forename: Tripti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shrestha-Bhattarai
authors.forename: Vivek M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rangnekar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011485:Protein Binding; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; C491901:FAS protein, human; C000717247:HSPA5 protein, human; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D019014:fas Receptor; C101296:prostate apoptosis response-4 protein