Advances in PGD2/PTGDR2 signaling pathway in tumors: A review

Hengjin Tian; Kunpeng Ge; Lulu Wang; Peiyao Gao; Amin Chen; Feifan Wang; Fangzheng Guo; FengChao Wang; Qiang Zhang

doi:10.17305/bb.2024.10485

Authors

Hengjin Tian Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Research and Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
Kunpeng Ge Key Laboratory of Cancer Research and Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
Lulu Wang Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
Peiyao Gao Key Laboratory of Cancer Research and Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
Amin Chen Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
Feifan Wang Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
Fangzheng Guo Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Immunology in Chronic Diseases, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
FengChao Wang Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
Qiang Zhang Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2024.10485

Keywords:

Prostaglandins (PGs), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), prostaglandin D2 receptor (PTGDR2), inflammation, cancer, signaling pathway

Abstract

Studies have shown that the prostaglandin (PG) family acts as an allergic inflammatory mediator in malignant diseases. Furthermore, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its related receptors, as well as the prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)/PGD2 receptor (PTGDR2), play irreplaceable roles in tumorigenesis and anti-tumor therapy. Several experiments have demonstrated that PGD2 signaling through PTGDR2 not only directly inhibits cancer cell survival, proliferation, and migration but also reduces resistance toward conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Recent studies from our and other laboratories have shown that PGD2, its ligands, and related metabolites can significantly alter the tumor microenvironment (TME) by promoting the secretion of chemokines and cytokines, thereby inhibiting tumor progression. Additionally, reduced PGD2 expression has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with gastric, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers, validating the preclinical findings and their clinical relevance. This review focuses on the current understanding of PGD2/PTGDR2 expression patterns and biological activity in cancer, proposing questions to guide the assessment of PGD2 and its receptors as potential targets for effective cancer therapies.