SRPK1 inhibition in prostate cancer: A novel anti-angiogenic treatment through modulation of VEGF alternative splicing

Pharmacol Res. 2016 May:107:276-281. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.03.013. Epub 2016 Mar 16.

Abstract

Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer death in men around the world, regardless of intense research and development of novel therapies in the last 10 years. One of the new avenues that has been tested - inhibition of angiogenesis - has been disappointing so far in clinical studies in spite of strong evidence that determinants of angiogenesis (e.g. vascular endothelial growth factor) are strongly associated with disease progression. One of the reasons for these outcomes may be our poor understanding of the biology of angiogenesis in prostate cancer (and probably other cancers as well) resulting in inhibition of both detrimental and favourable molecules. We discuss here novel targeted and more specific approaches to inhibit angiogenesis in prostate cancer as well as a completely new therapeutic modality to do this - modulation of alternative splicing - that may be applicable to other molecules/biological processes as well.

Keywords: Alternative splicing; Angiogenesis; Novel therapeutics; Prostate cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • SRPK1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases