Phospholipase Family Enzymes in Lung Cancer: Looking for Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Simple Summary This review highlights the role of phospholipase in lung cancer, a topic which should be better elucidated considering that phospholipase signaling plays a crucial role in the regulation of multiple cellular processes and its deregulation can promote lung tumorigenesis, favoring lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Lung cancer (LC) is the second most common neoplasm in men and the third most common in women. In the last decade, LC therapies have undergone significant improvements with the advent of immunotherapy. However, the effectiveness of the available treatments remains insufficient due to the presence of therapy-resistant cancer cells. For decades, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have dominated the treatment strategy for LC; however, relapses occur rapidly and result in poor survival. Malignant lung tumors are classified as either small- or non-small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC and NSCLC). Despite improvements in the treatment of LC in recent decades, the benefits of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are limited, although they have improved the prognosis of LC despite the persistent low survival rate due to distant metastasis in the late stage. The identification of novel prognostic molecular markers is crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms of LC initiation and progression. The potential role of phosphatidylinositol in tumor growth and the metastatic process has recently been suggested by some researchers. Phosphatidylinositols are lipid molecules and key players in the inositol signaling pathway that have a pivotal role in cell cycle regulation, proliferation, differentiation, membrane trafficking, and gene expression. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase enzymes and their emerging roles in LC.

Automated summary

This review emphasizes the importance of phospholipase in lung cancer, as its deregulation can promote tumor growth and metastasis. Despite advancements in LC treatment, the prognosis remains poor due to therapy-resistant cancer cells and distant metastasis. The identification of novel prognostic markers, such as phosphoinositides, is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanisms of LC. The review discusses the role of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase enzymes in LC and their potential as therapeutic targets.