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Gamma secretase inhibitors of Notch signaling

Authors Olsauskas-Kuprys R, Zlobin A, Osipo C

Received 8 March 2013

Accepted for publication 2 May 2013

Published 23 July 2013 Volume 2013:6 Pages 943—955

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S33766

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Roma Olsauskas-Kuprys,1 Andrei Zlobin,1 Clodia Osipo1,2

1The Oncology Institute, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; 2Department of Pathology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstract: The numerous processes involved in the etiology of breast cancer such as cell survival, metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis are currently being elucidated. However, underlying mechanisms that drive breast cancer progression and drug resistance are still poorly understood. As we discuss here in detail, the Notch signaling pathway is an important regulatory component of normal breast development, cell fate of normal breast stem cells, and proliferation and survival of breast cancer initiating cells. Notch exerts a wide range of critical effects through a canonical pathway where it is expressed as a type I membrane precursor heterodimer followed by at least two subsequent cleavages induced by ligand engagement to ultimately release an intracellular form to function as a transcriptional activator. Notch and its ligands are overexpressed in breast cancer, and one method of effectively blocking Notch activity is preventing its cleavage at the cell surface with γ-secretase inhibitors. In the context of Notch signaling, the application of clinically relevant anti-Notch drugs in treatment regimens may contribute to novel therapeutic interventions and promote more effective clinical response in women with breast cancer.

Keywords: breast cancer, signaling pathways, γ-secretase, γ-secretase inhibitors, combination breast cancer therapy

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