Cancers, Vol. 9, Pages 116: Exploring the Role of RGD-Recognizing Integrins in Cancer

Cancers, Vol. 9, Pages 116: Exploring the Role of RGD-Recognizing Integrins in Cancer Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers9090116 Authors: Markus Nieberler Ute Reuning Florian Reichart Johannes Notni Hans-Jürgen Wester Markus Schwaiger Michael Weinmüller Andreas Räder Katja Steiger Horst Kessler Integrins are key regulators of communication between cells and with their microenvironment. Eight members of the integrin superfamily recognize the tripeptide motif Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) within extracelluar matrix (ECM) proteins. These integrins constitute an important subfamily and play a major role in cancer progression and metastasis via their tumor biological functions. Such transmembrane adhesion and signaling receptors are thus recognized as promising and well accessible targets for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications for directly attacking cancer cells and their fatal microenvironment. Recently, specific small peptidic and peptidomimetic ligands as well as antibodies binding to distinct integrin subtypes have been developed and synthesized as new drug candidates for cancer treatment. Understanding the distinct functions and interplay of integrin subtypes is a prerequisite for selective intervention in integrin-mediated diseases. Integrin subtype-specific ligands labelled with radioisotopes or fluorescent molecules allows the characterization of the integrin patterns in vivo and later the medical intervention via subtype specific drugs. The coating of...
Source: Cancers - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Review Source Type: research