Emerging role of inositol monophosphatase in cancer

Abstract

Inositol monophosphatase (IMPase) is an enzyme with two homologs—IMPA1 and IMPA2—that is responsible for dephosphorylating myo-inositol monophosphate to generate myo-inositol. IMPase has been extensively studied in neuropsychiatric diseases and is regarded as a susceptibility gene. Recently, emerging evidence has implied that IMPase is linked to cancer development and progression and correlates with patient survival outcomes. Interestingly, whether it acts as a tumor-promoter or tumor-suppressor is inconsistent among different research studies. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on IMPase in cancer, focusing on exploring the underlying mechanisms for its pro- and anticancer roles. In addition, we discuss the potential methods of IMPase regulation in cancer cells and the possible approaches for IMPase intervention in clinical practice.

Keywords

• IMPase
• IMPA1
• IMPA2
• Myo-inositol
• Cancer