HMGB1, S100 proteins and other RAGE ligands in cancer - markers, mediators and putative therapeutic targets

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Activation of RAGE due to its increased expression in cancer cells or its stimulation by multiple ligands (AGEs, HMGB1, S100 proteins, etc.) may contribute to the proliferation, invasiveness of tumor cells and formation of distant metastases and also to the resistance of cancer to treatment. RAGE ligands could thus become both useful markers of disease severity and its outcome and, a potential therapeutic target. CONCLUSIONS: Better understanding of the role of RAGE activation in different types of cancer may help to define the role of ligand/RAGE antagonists as promising cancer treatment.