PPAR and Agonists against Cancer: Rational Design of Complementation Treatments
PPAR is a member of the ligand-activated nuclear receptor superfamily: its ligands act as insulin sensitizers and some are approved for the treatment of metabolic disorders in humans. PPAR has pleiotropic effects on survival and proliferation of multiple cell types, including cancer cells, and is now subject of intensive preclinical cancer research. Studies of the recent decade highlighted PPAR role as a potential modulator of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. These observations provide an additional facet to the PPAR image as potential anticancer drug. Currently PPAR is regarded as an important target for the therapies against angiogenesis-dependent pathological states including cancer and vascular complications of diabetes. Some of the studies, however, identify pro-angiogenic and tumor-promoting effects of PPAR and its ligands pointing out the need for further studies. Below, we summarize current knowledge of PPAR regulatory mechanisms and molecular targets, and discuss ways to maximize the beneficial activity of the PPAR agonists.