PPARγand Apoptosis in Cancer

Abstract

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand binding transcription factors which function in many physiological roles including lipid metabolism, cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. PPARs and their ligands have been shown to play a role in cancer. In particular, PPARγligands including endogenous prostaglandins and the synthetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs) can induce apoptosis of cancer cells with antitumor activity. Thus, PPARγligands have a potential in both chemoprevention and therapy of several types of cancer either as single agents or in combination with other antitumor agents. Accordingly, the involvement of PPARγand its ligands in regulation of apoptosis of cancer cells have been extensively studied. Depending on cell types or ligands, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by PPARγligands can be either PPARγ-dependent or -independent. Through increasing our understanding of the mechanisms of PPARγligand-induced apoptosis, we can develop better strategies which may include combining other antitumor agents for PPARγ-targeted cancer chemoprevention and therapy. This review will highlight recent research advances on PPARγand apoptosis in cancer.