Potential therapeutic targets shared between leishmaniasis and cancer.

Rashidi S

Rashidi S(1), Fernández-Rubio C(2), Manzano-Román R(3), Mansouri R(4), Shafiei R(5), Ali-Hassanzadeh M(6), Barazesh A(7), Karimazar M(1), Hatam G(8), Nguewa P(2).
Author information:
(1)Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
(2)Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, IdiSNA
(Navarra Institute for Health Research), c/ Irunlarrea 1, University of Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, 31008Pamplona, Spain.
(3)Proteomics Unit, Cancer Research Centre
(IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), 37007Salamanca, Spain.
(4)Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran.
(5)Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
(6)Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran.
(7)Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
(8)Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182021000160

The association of leishmaniasis and malignancies in human and animal models has been highlighted in recent years. The misdiagnosis of coexistence of leishmaniasis and cancer and the use of common drugs in the treatment of such diseases prompt us to further survey the molecular biology of Leishmania parasites and cancer cells. The information regarding common expressed proteins, as possible therapeutic targets, in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells is scarce. Therefore, the current study reviews proteins, and investigates the regulation and functions of several key proteins in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells. The up- and down-regulations of such proteins were mostly related to survival, development, pathogenicity, metabolic pathways and vital signalling in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells. The presence of common expressed proteins in Leishmania parasites and cancer cells reveals valuable information regarding the possible shared mechanisms of pathogenicity and opportunities for therapeutic targeting in leishmaniasis and cancers in the future.