Semaphorins and their receptors in lung cancer

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 273; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Potiron, Vincent A, Roche, Joëlle, Drabkin, Harry A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 08.01.2009; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Breast cancer; Cancer therapies; Carcinogens; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell Adhesion Molecules - physiology; Disease; DNA methylation; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Kidney cancer; Leukemia; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Lung Neoplasms - physiopathology; Melanoma; Mortality; Nerve Tissue Proteins - physiology; Neuropilin; Neuropilins - physiology; Ovarian cancer; Plexin; Prostate cancer; Semaphorin; Semaphorins - classification; Semaphorins - physiology; Signal Transduction; Tumors; VEGF; retinoblastoma protein; RAR; GRP; Lung cancer; PTEN; CRMP; FHIT; LKB1; NRP; EGFR; Rb; Plexin; Angiogenesis; extracellular domain; hepatocyte growth factor; serine/threonine kinase 11; gastrin-releasing peptide; small cell lung cancer; EC; fragile histidine triad; GTPase activating protein; non-small cell lung cancer; SCLC; stem cell factor; NSCLC; collapsin response mediator protein; endothelial cell; epidermal growth factor receptor; HGF; VEGF; ECD; GEF; phosphatase and tensin homolog; retinoic acid receptor; TGF; guanine nucleotide exchange factor; vascular endothelial growth factor; GAP; SCF; transforming growth factor; neuropilin; Semaphorin; Neuropilin
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.05.032

Abstract Semaphorins are a large family of secreted, transmembrane and GPI-linked proteins initially characterized in the development of the nervous system and axonal guidance. Semaphorins are expressed in many tissues where they regulate normal development, organ morphogenesis, immunity and angiogenesis. They affect the cytoskeleton, actin filament organization, microtubules and cell adhesion. Semaphorin signaling is transduced by plexins, which in the case of most class-3 semaphorins requires high-affinity neuropilin receptors. The neuropilins also function as receptors for VEGF and other growth factors, and their expression is often abnormal in tumors. In cancer, semaphorins have both tumor suppressor and tumor promoting functions. We review here the current status of semaphorins and their receptors in tumor development with a focus on lung cancer.