HuR as Therapeutic Target in Cancer: What the Future Holds

Abstract

ELAV-like protein 1 or HuR (human antigen R) is an RNA-binding protein that in humans is encoded by the ELAVL1 gene, and one of its best functions is to stabilize mRNAs in order to regulate gene expression. HuR protein overexpression has undoubtedly been linked to an increased risk of tumor growth, progression and metastasis, rendering it a potential therapeutic target candidate in cancer. Novel agents, interfering with HuR expression, have been tested, both in vitro and in vivo, with promising results. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature regarding the potential agents that could actively act on and inhibit HuR expression. HuR molecule controls the expression of various proto-oncogenes, cytokines and growth factors, representing a major player in tumor progression, invasion and metastasis and constituting an emerging target for cancer therapy. PubMed database was thoroughly searched, and all published articles providing scientific data on molecules that can exhibit antitumorigenic effects via HuR inhibition were included. According to these data, HuR inhibition should be a promising target in cancer therapeutics.

Keywords: HuR inhibition; HuR protein; cancer therapy; miRNAs; siRNAs.; small molecules.