SPINKs in Tumors: Potential Therapeutic Targets

Chengcheng Liao; Qian Wang; Jiaxing An; Minglin Zhang; Jie Chen; Xiaolan Li; Linlin Xiao; Jiajia Wang; Qian Long; Jianguo Liu; Xiaoyan Guan

doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.833741

SPINKs in Tumors: Potential Therapeutic Targets

Front Oncol. 2022 Feb 11:12:833741. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.833741. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Chengcheng Liao^{1

2}, Qian Wang^{2

3}, Jiaxing An⁴, Minglin Zhang⁵, Jie Chen⁶, Xiaolan Li^{2

3}, Linlin Xiao^{1

2}, Jiajia Wang¹, Qian Long^{1

2}, Jianguo Liu^{1

2}, Xiaoyan Guan^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
² Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
³ Microbial Resources and Drug Development Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, Life Sciences Institute, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
⁵ Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Baiyun Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
⁶ Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.

Abstract

The serine protease inhibitor Kazal type (SPINK) family includes SPINK1-14 and is the largest branch in the serine protease inhibitor family. SPINKs play an important role in pancreatic physiology and disease, sperm maturation and capacitation, Nager syndrome, inflammation and the skin barrier. Evidence shows that the unregulated expression of SPINK1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 13 is closely related to human tumors. Different SPINKs exhibit various regulatory modes in different tumors and can be used as tumor prognostic markers. This article reviews the role of SPINK1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 13 in different human cancer processes and helps to identify new cancer treatment targets.

Keywords: EGFR; KLKs; PSTI; SPINKs; tumor; uPA.

Publication types

Review