title: CK2 in Cancer: Cellular and Biochemical Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Target.
abstract: CK2 genes are overexpressed in many human cancers, and most often overexpression is associated with worse prognosis. Site-specific expression in mice leads to cancer development (e.g., breast, lymphoma) indicating the oncogenic nature of CK2. CK2 is involved in many key aspects of cancer including inhibition of apoptosis, modulation of signaling pathways, DNA damage response, and cell cycle regulation. A number of CK2 inhibitors are now available and have been shown to have activity against various cancers in vitro and in pre-clinical models. Some of these inhibitors are now undergoing exploration in clinical trials as well. In this review, we will examine some of the major cancers in which CK2 inhibition has promise based on in vitro and pre-clinical studies, the proposed cellular and signaling mechanisms of anti-cancer activity by CK2 inhibitors, and the current or recent clinical trials using CK2 inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. mel98791@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa M J
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. ceortega@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Charina E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Ayesha.Sheikh@bmc.org.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. migi0430@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Migi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. habdulra@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdul-Rassoul
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. khartsho@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Kevan L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hartshorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. isdoming@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dominguez
keywords: CK2; apoptosis; cancer; clinical trials; invasion; migration; preclinical models; proliferation; signaling cascades; signaling pathways; therapy