ABSTRACT

Cell-extracellular matrix interactions, or focal adhesions (FA), are crucial for tissue homeostasis but are also implicated in cancer. Integrin-Linked Kinase (ILK) is an abundantly expressed FA protein involved in multiple signaling pathways. Here, we reviewed the current literature on the role of ILK in breast cancer (BC). Articles included in vitro and in vivo experiments as well as studies in human BC samples. ILK attenuation via silencing or pharmaceutical inhibition, leads to apoptosis or inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cell invasion whereas ILK overexpression suppresses anoikis and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. Finally, ILK is upregulated in BC tumors and its expression is associated with grade, and metastasis. Therefore, ILK should be evaluated as a potential anti-cancer pharmaceutical target.

摘要

细胞-细胞外基质相互作用或粘着斑 (FA) 对组织稳态至关重要，但也与癌症有关。整合素连接激酶 (ILK) 是一种大量表达的 FA 蛋白，涉及多个信号通路。在这里，我们回顾了当前关于 ILK 在乳腺癌 (BC) 中的作用的文献。文章包括体外和体内实验以及人类 BC 样本的研究。通过沉默或药物抑制使 ILK 衰减，导致细胞凋亡或抑制上皮间质转化和细胞侵袭，而 ILK 过表达抑制失巢凋亡并促进肿瘤生长和转移。最后，ILK 在 BC 肿瘤中上调，其表达与分级和转移有关。因此，ILK 应该被评估为潜在的抗癌药物靶点。