AUTHOR=Ding Manqiu , Chen Yongqiang , Lang Yue , Cui Li 

TITLE=The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Cancer Biology: A Potential Therapeutic Target

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.742949

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.742949

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p>Prion protein has two isoforms including cellular prion protein (PrP<sup>C</sup>) and scrapie prion protein (PrP<sup>Sc</sup>). PrP<sup>Sc</sup> is the pathological aggregated form of prion protein and it plays an important role in neurodegenerative diseases. PrP<sup>C</sup> is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that can attach to a membrane. Its expression begins at embryogenesis and reaches the highest level in adulthood. PrP<sup>C</sup> is expressed in the neurons of the nervous system as well as other peripheral organs. Studies in recent years have disclosed the involvement of PrP<sup>C</sup> in various aspects of cancer biology. In this review, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the roles of PrP<sup>C</sup> in proliferation, cell survival, invasion/metastasis, and stem cells of cancer cells, as well as its role as a potential therapeutic target.</p>