P2 receptors in cancer progression and metastatic spreading. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Virgilio, Francesco; Falzoni, Simonetta; Giuliani, Anna Lisa; Adinolfi, Elena
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in pharmacology. Volume 29(2016)
• Page Start: 17
• Page End: 25
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical Preparations -- Periodicals; Drug Therapy -- Periodicals; Biopharmaceutics -- Periodicals; Pharmacologie -- Périodiques; Pharmacology; Periodicals; 615.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2016.05.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-4892

Abstract

Highlights: Extracellular ATP and adenosine activate specific receptors on host and tumor cells. Host adenosine (A2A) receptor activation causes immunosuppression. Host adenosine (A2A) receptor blockade inhibits tumor growth. Most tumors overexpress selected ATP receptor subtypes, namely P2X7. Pre-clinical data show that P2X7 targeting has a potent anti-tumor effect. Abstract : Tumor microenvironment is nucleoside and nucleotide rich. Adenosine is a key determinant of the highly immunosuppressive tumor interstitium. Extracellular ATP also affects anti-tumor immunity, albeit its effects on host-tumor interaction are incompletely understood. We give here an overview of recent literature covering the role of nucleotide-selective (P2) plasma membrane receptors in tumor growth and progression. P2 receptors are expressed on both host and cancer cells, where depending on the receptor subtype, the inflammatory infiltrate and the tumor cell type they may drive an anti-tumor response or promote tumor progression. It is anticipated that knowledge of the pharmacology, biochemistry and functional activity of the P2 receptors will allow a better understanding of host-tumor interaction and the development of innovative anti-cancer therapy.