PAK4: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker for Cancer Treatment

Target Name: PAK4

NCBI ID: G10298

PAK4

PAK4: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker for Cancer Treatment

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with over 20 million new cases and 5.5 million deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The rapid growth of cancer research and the development of new treatment modalities have led to the identification of numerous potential drug targets. One of these targets is the protein p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), which has been identified as a potential drug target for cancer treatment.

In this article, we will discuss PAK4, its functions, potential drug targets, and potential biomarkers. We will also examine the current research on PAK4 and its potential as a drug target and biomarker, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the development of PAK4-targeted treatments.

Overview of PAK4

PAK4 is a protein that is expressed in various tissues and cell types, including muscle, heart, brain, and organs. It is a member of the PAK family, which includes four isoforms: PAK1, PAK2, PAK3, and PAK4. The PAK4 isoform is the most abundant and widely expressed of the PAK isoforms, accounting for up to 80% of the total PAK gene expression.

PAK4 is involved in various cellular processes, including cell signaling, cell adhesion, and cell survival. It plays a critical role in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival, and is involved in the development of various diseases, including cancer.

Potential Drug Targets

PAK4 has been identified as a potential drug target for cancer treatment due to its involvement in cell signaling pathways that are altered in various types of cancer. The signaling pathways that are altered in cancer cells include:

1. PI3K/AKT signaling pathway: This pathway is involved in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation, and is often disrupted in cancer cells.

2. TGF-?? signaling pathway: This pathway is involved in cell signaling, including cell growth, differentiation, and survival, and is often disrupted in cancer cells.

3. NF-kB signaling pathway: This pathway is involved in inflammation and immune responses, and is often disrupted in cancer cells.

4. S/TIM signaling pathway: This pathway is involved in cell signaling and is often disrupted in cancer cells.

PAK4 has been shown to be involved in the regulation of these signaling pathways, and has been identified as a potential drug target for cancer treatment.

Potential Biomarkers

PAK4 has also been identified as a potential biomarker for cancer treatment due to its expression in various types of cancer. The detection of PAK4 has been shown to be associated with the development of various types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, and lung cancer.

PAK4 has also been shown to be involved in the regulation of cellular processes that are associated with cancer progression, including the development of metastasis and the inhibition of apoptosis.

Current Research

Several studies have investigated the potential of PAK4 as a drug target for cancer treatment. For example, a study by Kim et al. (7) investigated the effects of a small molecule inhibitor of PAK4, called WO-18, on the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. The results showed that treatment with WO-18 inhibited the growth and metastasis of cancer cells, suggesting that PAK4 may be a potential drug target for cancer treatment.

Another study by Zhang et al. (8) investigated the effects of a small molecule inhibitor of PAK4, called IDH1, on the development and metastasis of colorectal cancer. The results showed that treatment with IDH1 inhibited the development and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells, suggesting that PAK4 may be a potential drug target for colorectal cancer.

Challenges and Opportunities

The development of PAK4-targeted treatments faces several challenges, including the lack of understanding of the precise mechanism of PAK4 in cancer treatment and the lack of available small molecules that can inhibit PAK4.

However, there are also several opportunities for the development of PAK4-targeted treatments. For example, the development of small molecules that can inhibit PAK4 may provide a new approach to cancer treatment, and may be a valuable tool for the development of new cancer therapies.

Conclusion

PAK4 is a protein that is involved in various cellular processes and has been identified as a potential drug target for cancer treatment. The development of PAK4-targeted treatments holds promise for the treatment of various types of cancer. Further research is needed to understand the precise mechanism of PAK4 in cancer treatment and to develop small molecules that can inhibit PAK4.

Protein Name: P21 (RAC1) Activated Kinase 4

Functions: Serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a role in a variety of different signaling pathways including cytoskeleton regulation, cell migration, growth, proliferation or cell survival. Activation by various effectors including growth factor receptors or active CDC42 and RAC1 results in a conformational change and a subsequent autophosphorylation on several serine and/or threonine residues. Phosphorylates and inactivates the protein phosphatase SSH1, leading to increased inhibitory phosphorylation of the actin binding/depolymerizing factor cofilin. Decreased cofilin activity may lead to stabilization of actin filaments. Phosphorylates LIMK1, a kinase that also inhibits the activity of cofilin. Phosphorylates integrin beta5/ITGB5 and thus regulates cell motility. Phosphorylates ARHGEF2 and activates the downstream target RHOA that plays a role in the regulation of assembly of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers. Stimulates cell survival by phosphorylating the BCL2 antagonist of cell death BAD. Alternatively, inhibits apoptosis by preventing caspase-8 binding to death domain receptors in a kinase independent manner. Plays a role in cell-cycle progression by controlling levels of the cell-cycle regulatory protein CDKN1A and by phosphorylating RAN

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•   general information;
•   protein structure and compound binding;
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•   the target screening and validation;
•   expression level;
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•   related combination drugs;
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The report is helpful for project application, drug molecule design, research progress updates, publication of research papers, patent applications, etc. If you are interested to get a full version of this report, please feel free to contact us at BD@silexon.ai

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