[HTML][HTML] The role of GSK-3 in cancer immunotherapy: GSK-3 inhibitors as a new frontier in cancer treatment

G Augello, MR Emma, A Cusimano, A Azzolina… - Cells, 2020 - mdpi.com
G Augello, MR Emma, A Cusimano, A Azzolina, G Montalto, JA McCubrey, M Cervello
Cells, 2020mdpi.com
The serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was initially identified
because of its key role in the regulation of glycogen synthesis. However, it is now well-
established that GSK-3 performs critical functions in many cellular processes, such as
apoptosis, tumor growth, cell invasion, and metastasis. Aberrant GSK-3 activity has been
associated with many human diseases, including cancer, highlighting its potential
therapeutic relevance as a target for anticancer therapy. Recently, newly emerging data …
The serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was initially identified because of its key role in the regulation of glycogen synthesis. However, it is now well-established that GSK-3 performs critical functions in many cellular processes, such as apoptosis, tumor growth, cell invasion, and metastasis. Aberrant GSK-3 activity has been associated with many human diseases, including cancer, highlighting its potential therapeutic relevance as a target for anticancer therapy. Recently, newly emerging data have demonstrated the pivotal role of GSK-3 in the anticancer immune response. In the last few years, many GSK-3 inhibitors have been developed, and some are currently being tested in clinical trials. This review will discuss preclinical and initial clinical results with GSK-3β inhibitors, highlighting the potential importance of this target in cancer immunotherapy. As described in this review, GSK-3 inhibitors have been shown to have antitumor activity in a wide range of human cancer cells, and they may also contribute to promoting a more efficacious immune response against tumor target cells, thus showing a double therapeutic advantage.
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