A review of GOLPH2, an oncogenic protein and novel therapeutic options for GOLPH2 driven tumours

Abstract

GOLPH2 (Golgi Phosphoprotein 2) is a protein with pro-oncogenic properties that has currently been identified as a prime target for tumour therapy. Its involvement in key oncogenic pathways like EGFR, mTOR/AKT, PI3K makes it a good candidate for therapeutic intervention. Several research groups have consistently reported that GOLPH2, when expressed at high levels leads to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), increased cell proliferation, migration and metastasis. Not amazingly, it appears that many tumours exploit GOLPH2 for their advantage. Stopping GOLPH2´s detrimental effects would mean impairing tumour progression on various levels of its development. Therefore, inhibition of GOLPH2, a protein contributing to important hallmarks of cancer deserves the attention of researchers and drug developing stakeholders. However, its mainly intracellular localisation and the lack of domains that could possibly be interfered with by small molecules, have led to the conclusion that GOLPH2 is an un-targetable molecule. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of this multifunctional protein and describe possibilities to pharmacologically intervene to ameliorate its overshooting function in malignant diseases. Novel approaches like viral interventions or specific antibodies could soon result in a substantial therapeutic improvement for cancers with underlying GOLPH2 pathologies.