title: Targeting Legumain As a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent reports indicate that the tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in cancer development and progression, leading to a paradigm shift in the way cancer is studied and targeted. In contrast to traditional approaches, where only tumor cells are targeted for the treatment, an emerging approach is to develop therapeutics which target the tumor microenvironment while complementing or enhancing current treatments. Legumain (LGMN) is a newly identified target which is highly expressed in the tumor microenvironment and in tumor cells, and holds potential both as a biomarker and as a therapeutic target.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review will be the first to summarize the expression of LGMN in common cancers, as well as its roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis. This review also discusses the current developments and future prospects of targeting LGMN through the development of DNA vaccines, azopeptides, small molecule inhibitors and LGMN activated prodrugs, highlighting the potential of LGMN as a target for cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126 Jalan 19/155B, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chun-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.
authors.forename: Felicia Fei-Lei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chee-Onn
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000099240:Asparaginyl Endopeptidase
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D000099240:Asparaginyl Endopeptidase
keywords: Legumain; azo-peptide; cancer; prodrug; small molecules; tumor microenvironment; vaccine