Targeting kallikrein-related peptidases in prostate cancer

Introduction: Novel therapeutic compounds are needed for prostate cancer (CaP), given the limitations of already used drugs and the disease’s mortality, often attributed to castrate resistance. Tissue kallikrein and kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) form a family of serine proteases aberrantly expressed and broadly implicated in human malignancies. In CaP, KLKs participate in the promotion of cell proliferation, extracellular matrix degradation, tumour cell invasion and metastasis. Areas covered: This review discusses the different ways of inhibiting, modulating and exploiting KLK activity and/or expression as emerging CaP therapeutics. KLKs are targeted by diverse naturally occurring substances, including proteinaceous inhibitors, low-molecular-weight peptides and Zn2+. Synthetic KLK inhibitors include protein/peptide-based inhibitors and small molecules. A re-engineered serpin-based KLK inhibitor is under evaluation in first-in-human trials as a CaP therapeutic, whereas additional potent and selective KLK inhibitors with relevance to CaP have been synthesized. KLK3-activated pro-drugs have entered Phase I and Phase II clinical trials as therapeutics for prostate tumours. The KLK3-based PROSTVAC vaccine is evaluated in Phase III clinical trials. Targeting KLK expression via RNA interference methods could represent another promising therapeutic approach for CaP. Expert opinion: Apart from their immense biomarker potential, KLKs also hold promise as the basis of novel CaP therapeutics

Downregulation and Prognostic Performance of MicroRNA 224 Expression in Prostate Cancer

The extensive use of prostate-specific antigen as a general prostate cancer biomarker has introduced the hazards of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Recent studies have revealed the immense biomarker capacity of microRNAs (miRNAs) in prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression pattern of miR-224, a cancer-related miRNA, in prostate tumors and investigate its clinical utility

Clinical relevance of the deregulated kallikrein-related peptidase 8 mRNA expression in breast cancer: a novel independent indicator of disease-free survival

Examining for new BC biomarkers has proven that kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family members represent promising serum and/or tissue molecular tools for early diagnosis, effective prognosis, and treatment monitoring of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate, the previously unexplored, prognostic significance of KLK8 in BC. KLK8 mRNA expression was quantitatively analyzed in 150 cancerous and 100 corresponding normal breast tissue specimens via a SYBR Green-based Real-Time PCR methodology. Expression data and patients’ clinicopathological parameters were used for extensive biostatistical analyses, including internal validation. KLK8 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated in the cancerous tissue part relative to the non-cancerous counterpart (P\0.001), in the majority of the paired breast tissue samples. KLK8 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage (P = 0.019) and positive nodal status involvement (P = 0.044). Triple negative (TNBC) and HER2 overexpressing tumors exhibited higher KLK8 expression levels (P\0.001), compared to Luminal A and B molecular subtypes. Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis revealed that BC patients with high KLK8 expression had significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) intervals (P\0.001) compared to those belonging in the KLK8-low expression group. Cox univariate analysis confirmed the association between KLK8 expression, analyzed as a continuous variable, and poor patients’ outcome (Hazard ratio [HR] = 3.28, P\0.001). Most importantly, multivariate analysis showed that KLK8 expression is a strong and independent predictor of adverse DFS in BC ([HR] = 2.74; P = 0.002). Our results show that KLK8 mRNA expression is associated with aggressive tumor characteristics and it can serve as a novel independent biomarker of unfavorable prognosis for BC patients

Loss of miR-378 in prostate cancer, a common regulator of KLK2 and KLK4, correlates with aggressive disease phenotype and predicts the short-term relapse of the patients

A large number of prostate cancer (PCa) patients receive treatment without significant benefits, strengthening the need for accurate prognosis, which can be supported by the study of miRNAs. In silico specificity analysis was performed for the identification of miRNAs able to regulate KLK2 and KLK4 expression. Total RNA was extracted from prostate tissues obtained from PCa and benign prostate hyperplasia patients. Thereafter, RNA was polyadenylated and reverse transcribed to cDNA, which was used for qPCR analysis. miR-378 was predicted to target both KLK2 and KLK4 and downregulated levels detected in PCa patients (p = 0.050). The reduction of miR-378 was correlated with higher Gleason score (p = 0.018), larger diameter tumors (p = 0.034), and elevated serum PSA (p = 0.006). Regarding prognosis, miR-378 was able to improve risk stratification according to Gleason score or tumor stage, while higher risk to recur highlighted for the patients expressing lower miR-378 levels. Finally, the loss of miR-378 was able to predict the short-term relapse of ‘high’- and ‘very high’- recurrence-risk patients, independent of Gleason score, tumor stage, PSA, and age as indicated by Kaplan-Meier survival curves (p = 0.030) and multivariate Cox regression analysis (p = 0.018). In conclusion, loss of miR-378 expression increases the risk for PCa progression and relapse, despite active treatment

Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer death among males, especially in more developed countries. Diagnosis is often achieved at an early stage of the disease with prostate biopsy, following a screening test showing elevated serum levels of prostate-specific antigen or a positive digital rectal examination. Early detection of PCa has led to a substantial decline in the number of metastatic patients. However, the prostate-specific antigen screening test has proved to be a double-edged sword so far, as it also accounts for PCa overdiagnosis. Due to the variability of PCa features, accurate prognosis of PCa patients is very important for determining treatment options. Therefore, this review focuses on the most promising prognostic and predictive biomarkers in PCa, which are likely to play a pivotal role, alone or in panels, in the personalized medicine era that has recently emerged

The Role of BCL2 Family of Apoptosis Regulator Proteins in Acute and Chronic Leukemias

The disturbance of apoptosis molecular signaling pathways is involved in carcinogenesis. BCL2 family of proteins is the hallmark of apoptosis regulation. In the last decade, new members of BCL2 gene family were discovered and cloned and were found to be differentially expressed in many types of cancer. BCL2 protein family, through its role in regulation of apoptotic pathways, is possibly related to cancer pathophysiology and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. It is well known that leukemias are haematopoietic malignancies characterized by biological diversity, varied cytogenetics, different immunophenotype profiles, and diverse outcome. Current research focuses on the prognostic impact and specific role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of leukemias. The understanding of the molecular pathways that participate in the biology of leukemias may lead to the design of new therapies which may improve patients' survival. In the present paper, we describe current knowledge on the role of BCL2 apoptosis regulator proteins in acute and chronic leukemias

KLK6 (kallikrein-related peptidase 6)

Review on KLK6, with data on DNA, protein, and where the gene is involved

Steroid Hormone Regulation and Prognostic Value of the Human Kallikrein Gene 14 in Ovarian Cancer

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Blood-based analysis of type-2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility genes identifies specific transcript variants with deregulated expression and association with disease risk

Despite significant progress by genome-wide association studies, the ability of genetic variants to conduce to the prediction or prognosis of type-2 diabetes (T2D) is weak. Expression analysis of the corresponding genes may suggest possible links between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and T2D phenotype and/or risk. Herein, we investigated the expression patterns of 24 T2D-susceptibility genes, and their individual transcript variants (tv), in peripheral blood of T2D patients and controls (CTs), applying RNA-seq and real-time qPCR methodologies, and explore possible associations with disease features. Our data revealed the deregulation of certain transcripts in T2D patients. Among them, the down-regulation of CAPN10 tv3 was confirmed as an independent predictor for T2D. In patients, increased expression of CDK5 tv2, CDKN2A tv3 or THADA tv5 correlated positively with serum insulin levels, of CDK5 tv1 positively with % HbA1c levels, while in controls, elevated levels of TSPAN8 were associated positively with the presence of T2D family history. Herein, a T2D-specific expression profile of specific transcripts of disease-susceptibility genes is for the first time described in human peripheral blood. Large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the potential of these molecules to serve as disease biomarkers