Abstract
The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that localizes to the points of cell contact with the extracellular matrix, called focal adhesions. FAK is involved in several cellular processes including invasion, motility, proliferation and apoptosis. In in vivo animal studies, FAK has been shown to contribute to tumor development and malignancy. Furthermore, FAK expression was shown to be elevated in a number of human cancers. Increased FAK expression and activity are correlated with malignant phenotype and poor prognosis in patients. Taken together, these studies suggest that FAK is a potentially good target for drug discovery. In this review, FAK and its relationship to cancer, as well as approaches to therapeutic intervention of FAK will be discussed.
Keywords: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), tumor, siRNA, small molecule inhibitors, FAK expression
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Role of Focal Adhesion Kinase in Human Cancer: A Potential Target for Drug Discovery
Volume: 7 Issue: 6
Author(s): Edward Kyu-Ho Han and Thomas McGonigal
Affiliation:
Keywords: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), tumor, siRNA, small molecule inhibitors, FAK expression
Abstract: The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that localizes to the points of cell contact with the extracellular matrix, called focal adhesions. FAK is involved in several cellular processes including invasion, motility, proliferation and apoptosis. In in vivo animal studies, FAK has been shown to contribute to tumor development and malignancy. Furthermore, FAK expression was shown to be elevated in a number of human cancers. Increased FAK expression and activity are correlated with malignant phenotype and poor prognosis in patients. Taken together, these studies suggest that FAK is a potentially good target for drug discovery. In this review, FAK and its relationship to cancer, as well as approaches to therapeutic intervention of FAK will be discussed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Han Kyu-Ho Edward and McGonigal Thomas, Role of Focal Adhesion Kinase in Human Cancer: A Potential Target for Drug Discovery, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 7 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152007784111296
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152007784111296 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Targeting Protein-Protein Interaction with Covalent Small-Molecule Inhibitors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Mast Cells as Target in Cancer Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Collagenolytic Enzymes and their Applications in Biomedicine
Current Medicinal Chemistry In Silico Design of Protein Kinase Inhibitors: Successes and Failures
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Drug Carriers in Pharmaceutical Design: Promises and Progress
Current Pharmaceutical Design Affinity Can have Many Faces: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Properties of Ras-Effector Complex Formation
Current Chemical Biology Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Mouse Induced Glioma-Initiating Cell Models and Therapeutic Targets
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Recent Developments in Receptor-Selective Retinoids
Current Pharmaceutical Design Molecular Imaging with Small Animal PET/CT
Current Medical Imaging Advances in the Development of Anticancer HSP-based Vaccines
Current Medicinal Chemistry Synthetic Peptides Derived from the C-Terminal Region of Lys49 Phospholipase A2 Homologues from Viperidae Snake Venoms: Biomimetic Activities and Potential Applications
Current Pharmaceutical Design Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Regulate Human Dihydrofolate Reductase Activity and Expression
Current Enzyme Inhibition The Re-Emergence of Aerosol Gene Delivery: A Viable Approach to Lung Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Closely Related Antiretroviral Agents as Inhibitors of Two HIV-1 Enzymes, Ribonuclease H and Integrase: “Killing Two Birds with One Stone”
Current Pharmaceutical Design Overview of Medicinally Important Diterpenoids Derived from Plastids
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacological Intervention at CCR1 and CCR5 as an Approach for Cancer: Help or Hindrance
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Animal Models of Carcinogenesis in Inflamed Colorectum: Potential Use in Chemoprevention Study
Current Drug Targets Molecular Imaging of Apoptosis with Radio-Labeled Annexin A5 Focused on the Evaluation of Tumor Response to Chemotherapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Status of Flavonols as P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors in Cancer Chemotherapy
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews