Drug development targeting the glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)-mediated signal transduction pathway: inhibitors of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as …

F Takahashi-Yanaga, T Sasaguri - Journal of pharmacological sciences, 2009 - Elsevier
F Takahashi-Yanaga, T Sasaguri
Journal of pharmacological sciences, 2009Elsevier
Accumulating evidence suggests that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is often involved
in oncogenesis and cancer development. Accordingly, a novel anticancer drug can be
developed using inhibitors of this pathway. However, at present, there is no selective
inhibitor of this pathway available as a therapeutic agent. Although all the components of the
Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway can be a target for drug development, glycogen synthase
kinase-3β (GSK-3β), in particular, may be a good target because GSK-3β is an essential …
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is often involved in oncogenesis and cancer development. Accordingly, a novel anticancer drug can be developed using inhibitors of this pathway. However, at present, there is no selective inhibitor of this pathway available as a therapeutic agent. Although all the components of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway can be a target for drug development, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), in particular, may be a good target because GSK-3β is an essential component of the pathway, and activation of this kinase results in the inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway. We found that the differentiation-inducing factors (DIFs), putative morphogens for Dictyostelium discoideum, inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via the activation of GSK-3β, resulting in the cell-cycle arrest of human cancer cell lines. In this review, we summarize our recent findings on the antiproliferative effect of DIFs and show the possibility for development of a novel anticancer drug from DIFs and their derivatives.
Elsevier