
Legumain (LGMN) may serve as both a potential oncogenic marker and a
molecular target for treatment of cancer especially for personalized
medicine. Although recent findings have shed light on the functional
roles and expression patterns of LGMN, further investigations are still
warranted to elucidate the exact role and underlying mechanism of action
for LGMN in cancer.
LGMN, or asparaginyl endopeptidase, is a newly identified
lysosomal cysteine protease. It was recently found to be over-expressed
in tumor microenvironment , an enclosed environment that facilitates
the interaction among the human solid tumors, tumor-associated
endothelial and stromal cells, as well as in tumor-associated
macrophages.
These non-malignant cells support the growth of the tumors, metastasis and the survival of tumors. One of the identified key biomarkers driving the complexity of tumor microenvironment is LGMN. LGMN is a robust acidic cysteine endopeptidase with remarkably restricted specificity for hydrolysis of asparaginyl bonds.
Since LGMN has been implicated in tumor development and can potentially be developed into both diagnostic and therapeutic markers. This review aims to relate the recent findings on the biology of LGMN in cancers, to the therapeutic advancements in targeting LGMN in human cancers.
Recent discoveries have also demonstrated that targeting LGMN directly or utilizing LGMN as a prodrug activator are promising strategies for cancer management in the future. However, further research is necessary before such therapeutic strategies can be fully realized.
Source: Eurekalert
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