Purinergic Signaling in Cancer Therapy: From Mechanisms to Targeting Strategies
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1423
Special Issue Editor
Interests: purinergic receptors; ectonucleotidases; nucleotides; nucleoside
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Purinergic signaling, mediated by purine nucleotides and their receptors, plays a critical role in various physiological and pathological processes, including cancer progression. ATP, adenosine, and other purines act through purinergic receptors (P1 and P2 types) to influence cellular functions such as proliferation, survival, migration, and immune response modulation. In cancer, purinergic signaling is often dysregulated, contributing to tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion. ATP can promote inflammation and tumor angiogenesis, while adenosine often acts to suppress immune activity within the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, purinergic receptors have been implicated in resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Targeting these pathways offers promising therapeutic opportunities, with ongoing research investigating purinergic receptor antagonists, agonists, and modulators. These interventions aim to enhance anti-tumor immunity, reduce tumor progression, and overcome drug resistance. As purinergic signaling continues to emerge as a vital component of cancer biology, its therapeutic potential is gaining increasing attention. Developing selective purinergic receptor modulators could lead to novel, effective strategies for cancer treatment, either alone or in combination with existing therapies, offering a more targeted and personalized approach to cancer care.
Dr. Margarete Dulce Bagatini
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- purinergic signaling
- cancer
- ATP
- adenosine
- purinergic receptors
- immune modulation
- tumor progression
- therapeutic potential
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