Peptidergic Systems and Neuroblastoma

TL;DR

Peptidergic systems play a complex role in neuroblastoma, with some peptides promoting cancer and others inhibiting it, offering potential for new treatments.

Contribution

The paper highlights the dual role of peptidergic systems in neuroblastoma and their potential as therapeutic targets.

Findings

Oncogenic peptides like angiotensin II and neuropeptide Y promote neuroblastoma progression.

Anticancer peptides such as adrenomedullin and orexin inhibit neuroblastoma cell growth and angiogenesis.

Peptide receptor antagonists and other therapeutic approaches show promise in counteracting oncogenic effects.

Abstract

The peptidergic systems are involved in neuroblastoma. Peptides (angiotensin II, neuropeptide Y, neurotensin, substance P) act as oncogenic agents in neuroblastoma, whereas others (adrenomedullin, corticotropin-releasing factor, urocortin, orexin) exert anticancer effects against neuroblastoma. This plethora of peptidergic systems show the functional complexity of the mechanisms regulated by peptides in neuroblastoma. Peptide receptor antagonists act as antineuroblastoma agents since these compounds counteracted neuroblastoma cell growth and migration and the angiogenesis promoted by oncogenic peptides. Other therapeutic approaches (signaling pathway inhibitors, focal adhesion kinase inhibitors, peptide receptor knockdown, acetic acid analogs) that also counteract the beneficial effects mediated by the oncogenic peptides in neuroblastoma are discussed, and future research lines to be developed in neuroblastoma (interactions between oncogenic and anticancer peptides, combination therapy using peptide receptor antagonists and chemotherapy/radiotherapy) are also suggested. Although the data regarding the involvement of the peptidergic systems in neuroblastoma are, in many cases, fragmentary or very scarce for a particular peptidergic system, taken together, they are quite promising with respect to potentiating and developing this research line with the aim of developing new therapeutic strategies to treat neuroblastoma in the future. Peptidergic systems are potential and promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma.

Figures