Endocrine-related cancers and the role of AMPK.

Abstract

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master regulator of energy homeostasis involved in the regulation of a number of physiological processes including β-oxidation of fatty acids, lipogenesis, protein and cholesterol synthesis, as well as cell cycle inhibition and apoptosis. Important changes to these processes are known to occur in cancer due to changes in AMPK activity within cancer cells and in the periphery. This review aims to present findings relating to the role and regulation of AMPK in endocrine-related cancers. Obesity is a known risk factor for many types of cancers and a number of endocrine factors, including adipokines and steroid hormones, are regulated by and regulate AMPK. A clear role for AMPK in breast cancer is evident from the already impressive body of work published to date. However, information pertaining to its role in prostate cancer is still contentious, and future work should unravel the intricacies behind its role to inhibit, in some cases, and stimulate cancer growth in others. This review also presents data relating to the role of AMPK in cancers of the endometrium, ovary and colon, and discusses the possible use of AMPK-activating drugs including metformin for the treatment of all endocrine-related cancers.

• Authors: Kristy A Brown, Nirukshi U Samarajeewa, Evan R Simpson
• Journal: Molecular and cellular endocrinology (Mol Cell Endocrinol) Vol. 366 Issue 2 Pg. 170-9 (Feb 25 2013) ISSN: 1872-8057 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 22801104 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biological Factors
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• Metformin
• AMP-Activated Protein Kinases

Topics

• AMP-Activated Protein Kinases (genetics, metabolism)
• Biological Factors (pharmacology)
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Colonic Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, genetics)
• Endocrine System (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Endometrial Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, genetics)
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Hypoglycemic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Metformin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Obesity (enzymology, genetics)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, genetics)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, genetics)