Targeting Legumain As a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Cancers

Title:Targeting Legumain As a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Cancers

Volume: 18 Issue: 11

Author(s): Chun-Wai Mai*, Felicia Fei-Lei Chung and Chee-Onn Leong

Affiliation:

• School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126 Jalan 19/155B, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

Keywords: Legumain, cancer, tumor microenvironment, vaccine, azo-peptide, small molecules, prodrug.

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.

Conclusion: 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.

Cite this article as:

Mai Chun-Wai*, Chung Fei-Lei Felicia and Leong Chee-Onn, Targeting Legumain As a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Cancers, Current Drug Targets 2017; 18 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450117666161216125344

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450117666161216125344	Print ISSN 1389-4501
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1873-5592