Targeting integrin α5β1 in urological tumors: opportunities and challenges

Xuming Zhou; Hezhen Zhu; Cong Luo; Huan Xiao; Xiaofeng Zou; Junrong Zou; Guoxi Zhang

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1165073

Targeting integrin α5β1 in urological tumors: opportunities and challenges

Front Oncol. 2023 Jul 6:13:1165073. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1165073. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xuming Zhou^{1

2}, Hezhen Zhu^{1

2}, Cong Luo^{1

2}, Huan Xiao¹, Xiaofeng Zou^{2

3

4}, Junrong Zou^{2

3

4}, Guoxi Zhang^{2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ The First Clinical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China.
² Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China.
³ Institute of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China.
⁴ Jiangxi Engineering Technology Research Center of Calculi Prevention, Ganzhou, China.

Abstract

Urological tumors, such as prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and bladder cancer, have shown a significant rise in prevalence in recent years and account for a significant proportion of malignant tumors. It has been established that metastasis to distant organs caused by urological tumors is the main cause of death, although the mechanisms underlying metastasis have not been fully elucidated. The fibronectin receptor integrin α5β1 reportedly plays an important role in distant metastasis and is closely related to tumor development. It is widely thought to be an important cancer mediator by interacting with different ligands, mediating tumor adhesion, invasion, and migration, and leading to immune escape. In this paper, we expound on the relationship and regulatory mechanisms of integrin α5β1 in these three cancers. In addition, the clinical applications of integrin α5β1 in these cancers, especially against treatment resistance, are discussed. Last but not least, the possibility of integrin α5β1 as a potential target for treatment is examined, with new ideas for future research being proposed.

Keywords: bladder cancer; drug resistance; inhibitors; integrin α5β1; kidney cancer; prostate cancer; target.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 81760462 and 81860456). This research was supported by the Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Provincial Education Department (grant no. GJJ180789). This study was also supported by the Leading Talents Program of Jiangxi Provincial Major Discipline Academic and Technical Leaders Training Program (grant no. 20213BCJL22038).