Therapeutic targeting of the actin cytoskeleton in cancer

Abstract

In cancer, actin filament populations and associated remodelling proteins are involved in driving proliferation, apoptosis and motility. Furthermore, a web of signalling pathways converge with the actin cytoskeleton to regulate these functions. Importantly, the actin cytoskeleton is a heterogeneous assembly of filament populations, each contributing to shared and unique cellular functions. The current range of actin-disrupting compounds are limited in their therapeutic use as they cannot discriminate between functionally specific populations of actin. Universal disruption of actin is likely to be intolerable in a clinical setting. Dissecting the regulation and composition of these filament populations will allow for treatments tailored to target the unique cytoskeletal repertoire of tumour cells. Identifying specific actin filament populations which are indispensible for tumour cell function is the focus of current work.