Page 57 - GPD-3-2

Gene & Protein in Disease

REVIEW ARTICLE
TOPK: A noteworthy target for lung cancer

treatment

Wenbo Liu 1,2,3 , Feng Zhu 1 , Qiuhong Duan , Yafang Li 1,3 , Shuang Zhao 1 ,
1
2,3
1
Juanjuan Xiao * , and Yijie Zhang *
1 Translational Medical Center, Huaihe Hospital, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
2 Department of Respiratory, School of Second Clinical Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan,
China
3 Department of Respiratory, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China

Abstract

T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase
that is specifically expressed in actively proliferating cells, such as normal testicular
germ cells, lymphocytes, and various tumor cells. It plays a key role in multiple
biological processes, such as cell growth, metastasis, drug resistance, angiogenesis,
and inflammation, and is a promising therapeutic target for tumors. Aberrant TOPK
overexpression or activation has been observed in lung cancer and is related to
lung cancer occurrence and development, clinical outcome, and poor prognosis.
The inhibition of TOPK has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential for
reducing tumor growth and can even be used in combination with chemotherapy or
radiotherapy. Thus, targeting TOPK provides a promising avenue for the prevention
and treatment of lung cancer. This article reviews the role of TOPK in the occurrence,
development, and drug resistance of lung cancer; summarizes the main signaling
pathways affected by TOPK in lung cancer; and analyzes its therapeutic value. The
*Corresponding authors:
Yijie Zhang role and potential of TOPK in targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and
(13903782431@163.com) immunotherapy for lung cancer are also discussed. In addition, the latest progress in
Juanjuan Xiao the use of TOPK inhibitors for lung cancer treatment is summarized, and their future
(xjjuan2006@henu.edu.cn) clinical application is discussed. Overall, TOPK is a valuable target for the treatment
Citation: Liu W, Zhu F, Duan Q, of lung cancer, and further development of specific TOPK inhibitors is indispensable
et al. TOPK: A noteworthy target for the comprehensive treatment of lung cancer.
for lung cancer treatment. Gene
Protein Dis. 2024;3(2):3062.
doi: 10.36922/gpd.3062
Keywords: TOPK; Lung cancer; Cancer treatment; Inhibitors; Target
Received: February 29, 2024
Accepted: May 15, 2024
Published Online: June 12, 2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). 1. Introduction
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) is increasingly known as a mitogenic
Creative Commons Attribution
1,2
License, permitting distribution, and protein kinase, which is specifically expressed in many highly proliferative cells. It is
reproduction in any medium, which located in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. In normal adult tissues, the expression of
provided that the original work is
properly cited. TOPK is mainly limited to lymphoid tissues and testis and is involved in the activation
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Publisher’s Note: AccScience of lymphoid cells and spermatogenesis. In numerous cancers, TOPK is overexpressed
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3
6
Publishing remains neutral with and can directly phosphorylate ERK2, PRPK, c-Jun, histone H3, H AX, Prx-1,
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regard to jurisdictional claims in ULK1 and NF-κB, thus participating in the regulation of tumor cell cycle progression,
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published maps and institutional
affiliations. transformation, proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance. Recent studies have
Volume 3 Issue 2 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/gpd.3062