Targeting Endothelial Cell-Specific Molecule 1 Protein in Cancer: A Promising Therapeutic Approach

Abstract

Despite the dramatic advances in cancer research in the past few years, effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1), a soluble dermatan sulfate proteoglycan, also known as endocan, serves as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator due to its aberrant expression under pathological conditions, including cancer, sepsis, kidney diseases, and cardiovascular disease. Significantly, ESM-1 can promote cancer progression and metastasis through the regulation of tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistant. In addition, ESM-1 is involved in the tumor microenvironment, containing inflammation, angiogenesis, and lymph angiogenesis. This article reviews the molecular and biological characteristics of ESM-1 in cancer, the underlying mechanisms, the currently clinical and pre-clinical applications, and potential therapeutic strategies. Herein, we propose that ESM-1 is a new therapeutic target for cancer therapy.

The impact of macrophages on endothelial cells is potentiated by cycling hypoxia: Enhanced tumor inflammation and metastasis

“…Its secretion is increased upon stimulation by cytokines and pro-angiogenic factors. It is recognized as a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation ( 33 , 34 ).…”

Tumor microenvironment: barrier or opportunity towards effective cancer therapy

“…1 ). Therefore, tumor-associated endothelial cells can act as an attractive target for therapeutic purposes [ 83 ]. Several anti-angiogenic compounds have been developed and tested in clinical trials (Fig.…”

Prognostic and Diagnostic Value of Endocan in Kidney Diseases

“…Endocan, moreover, increases in a dose-dependent way, the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF)-mediated proliferation of human embryonic kidney cells [ 2 , 16 ] and promotes the mitogenic and promigratory activity of both VEGF-A and -C on cultured lymphatic endothelial cells, constituting a novel mediator of lymphangiogenesis and a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy [ 29 ]. Its marked cytoplasmic expression inside tumor vessels in different types of highly vascularized tumors such as cancer of the lung [ 15 , 30 ], brain [ 24 , 31 ], kidney [ 25 , 32 ], liver [ 33 , 34 ], pituitary [ 35 ], and bladder [ 36 ] was suggested to correlate with tumor aggressiveness and progression [ 16 ].…”