Editorial
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World J Biol Chem. Mar 26, 2010; 1(3): 31-40
Published online Mar 26, 2010. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v1.i3.31
Anticancer actions of PPARγ ligands: Current state and future perspectives in human lung cancer
Shou Wei Han, Jesse Roman
Shou Wei Han, Jesse Roman, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Disorders Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, United States
Jesse Roman, Louisville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, KY, 40202, United States
Author contributions: Han SW wrote the paper; Roman J edited the paper.
Supported by The National Institutes of Health CA123104 (Han SW) and CA116812 (Roman J)
Correspondence to: Shou Wei Han, MD, PhD, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Disorders Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, CTR Building, Room 524, 505 Hancock St., Louisville, KY 40202, United States. sw.han@louisville.edu
Telephone: +1-505-8528468 Fax: +1-505-8526233
Received: March 17, 2010
Revised: March 23, 2010
Accepted: March 24, 2010
Published online: March 26, 2010
Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factors and members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Of the three PPARs identified to date (PPARγ, PPARβ/δ, and PPARα), PPARγ has been studied the most, in part because of the availability of PPARγ agonists (also known as PPARγ ligands) and its significant effects on the management of several human diseases including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and cancers. PPARγ is expressed in many tumors including lung cancer, and its function has been linked to the process of lung cancer development, progression and metastasis. Studies performed in gynogenic and xenograft models of lung cancer showed decreased tumor growth and metastasis in animals treated with PPARγ ligands. Furthermore, data are emerging from retrospective clinical studies that suggest a protective role for PPARγ ligands on the incidence of lung cancer. This review summarizes the research being conducted in this area and focuses on the mechanisms and potential therapeutic effects of PPARγ ligands as a novel anti-lung cancer treatment strategy.

Keywords: Gene expression and regulation; Human lung cancer; Ligands; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; Signaling pathways; Therapy