HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

 

Review

CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV and its role in cancer

B. Pro and N.H. Dang

Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Unit 429, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

Offprint requests to: Dr. Nam H. Dang, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Unit 429, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. e-mail: nhdang@mdanderson.org

Summary. CD26/Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPPIV) is a 110-kDa glycoprotein that is expressed on numerous cell types and has multiple biological functions. A key facet of CD26/DPPIV biology is its enzymatic activity and its physical and functional interaction with other molecules. The substrates of CD26/DPPIV are proline-containing peptides and include growth factors, chemokines, neuropeptides, and vasoactive peptides. DPPIV plays an important role in immune regulation, signal transduction, and apoptosis. Furthermore, CD26 appears to play an important role in tumor progression. In the present review, we summarize key aspects of CD26/DPPIV involvement in tumor biology and its potential role in cancer development and behavior. Histol Histopathl 19, 1345-1351 (2004)

Key words: CD26/DPPIV, T cell lymphoid malignancies, Chemokines, Cancer, Targeted therapy

DOI: 10.14670/HH-19.1345