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Lipocalin 2: a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer metastasis
Authors Hu C, Yang K, Li M, Huang W, Zhang F, Wang H
Received 24 July 2018
Accepted for publication 17 October 2018
Published 13 November 2018 Volume 2018:11 Pages 8099—8106
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S181223
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single-blind
Peer reviewers approved by Dr Amy Norman
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Dr William Cho
Chenxia Hu,1 Ke Yang,1 Mengjie Li,1 Weiping Huang,2 Fengxue Zhang,2 Hongqi Wang2
1School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; 2The Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Abstract: Although systematic therapeutic approaches have reduced cancer-associated mortality, metastatic breast cancer can still evade therapy, particularly triple-negative breast cancer, which remains associated with high rates of cancer metastasis and has the worst clinical prognosis. Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein that transports small lipophilic ligands. Its abnormal expression serves critical roles in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process, angiogenesis, and cell migration and invasion in breast cancer. Notably, LCN2 functions as an initiator of carcinogenesis and metastasis by involving multiple signaling pathways. The present review aims to summarize research findings on the abnormal expression of LCN2 in breast cancer progression. Furthermore, the review highlights the latest developments of potential LCN2-targeting agents and proposed LCN2-associated molecular mechanisms with regard to breast cancer invasion and metastasis.
Keywords: lipocalin 2, breast cancer, metastasis, triple-negative breast cancer, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis
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