Biological role of the PAK4 signaling pathway: A prospective therapeutic target for multivarious cancers

Abstract

p21 activated kinase 4 (PAK4) along with PAK5 and PAK6 are members of the type II family of PAKs. From the type II family, PAK4 is being assessed as an expansively investigated area. PAK4 acts as a serine/threonine kinase in response to Rho GTPases, while interaction partners and substrates are rapidly extended, implying a diverse range of cellular functions regulated by PAK4, including cell cycle progression, proliferation, survival, cell adhesion, motility, neuronal development, and immune defense. Thus, altered expression and function of PAK4 imparts numerous pathological conditions. The overexpressed and, in some cases, amplified PAK4 gene is revealed to be associated with a diverse range of cancers. Ongoing findings explain how PAK4 is involved in cancer progression, promoting cancer cell growth, survival, and metastasis with the corresponding activation and signaling schemes. Meanwhile, upstream activating and downstream effector molecules are increasingly identified to elucidate the exact mode of action on the cancer progression role of PAK4. A plethora of approaches targeting PAK4 is continuing to assess the potentiality of inhibitors to eradicate the growth and metastasis of cancers overexpressing PAK4. Here, we summarize the findings on the role of PAK4 and its signaling pathways promoting cancers and examine PAK4 as a promising target for multitype cancers.

Keywords

• PAK4
• Cancer
• Survival
• Metastasis
• Neuronal development
• Immune defense