Neurotrophins and their involvement in digestive cancers

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Feb 11;10(2):123. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1385-8.

Abstract

Cancers of the digestive system, including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatic, and colorectal cancers, have a high incidence and mortality worldwide. Efficient therapies have improved patient care; however, many challenges remain including late diagnosis, disease recurrence, and resistance to therapies. Mechanisms responsible for these aforementioned challenges are numerous. This review focuses on neurotrophins, including NGF, BDNF, and NT3, and their specific tyrosine kinase receptors called tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk A, B, C, respectively), associated with sortilin and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), and their implication in digestive cancers. Globally, p75NTR is a frequently downregulated tumor suppressor. On the contrary, Trk and their ligands are considered oncogenic factors. New therapies which target NT and/or their receptors, or use them as diagnosis biomarkers could help us to combat digestive cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / genetics
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • NGFR protein, human
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • sortilin