Title:Sphingosine Analogs and Protein Phosphatase 2A as a Molecular Targeted Cancer Therapy: A Mini Systematic Review
Volume: 7
Author(s): Thomas Mayerhofer and Rajesh Kumar Jha*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, Saba University School of Medicine, The Bottom, Saba,Netherlands Antilles
Keywords:
PP2A, I2 PP2A/SET, CIP2A, sphingosine analogs, FTY720, S1PR, neoplasm, leukemia.
Abstract:
Background: Regulation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) plays an important role in hematologic
and solid neoplasms. Therefore, the use of sphingosine analogs as anti-neoplastic drugs has
shown potential due to their role as PP2A activators.
Objective: Investigation of whether sphingosine analogs bind to endogenous inhibitor proteins of
PP2A, such as I2 PP2A/SET and/or CIP2A, and whether this binding reactivates PP2A, allowing it to resume
its role as a tumor suppressor.
Methods: Literature from the PubMed database was searched and those articles related to PP2A and
sphingosine analogs were reviewed.
Results: Utilization of sphingosine analogs in hematologic and solid neoplasms revealed numerous
mechanisms of inducing cell death. Regulation of PP2A through modulation of I2
PP2A/SET and/or
CIP2A was demonstrated in a variety of neoplastic processes; however, unique mechanisms such as
cell necrosis via the production of reactive oxygen species was also appreciated.
Conclusion: Only certain malignancies expressed endogenous inhibitor proteins, yet sphingosine analogs
were able to induce cell death in neoplasms that did not express these proteins. This suggests that
sphingosine analogs may be utilized for anti-neoplastic therapy via reactivation of PP2A however, it
is not the exclusive mechanism for inducing cell death. Further investigation of sphingosine analogs
as a novel or adjunctive chemotherapeutic treatment is warranted.