Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2): a promising target for anti-cancer therapies

// Yuanyuan Feng 1,* , Lihong Zhou 1,* , Xiaoting Sun 1 and Qi Li 1 1 Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China * These authors have contributed in equal measure as the first author Correspondence to: Qi Li, email: // Keywords : HIPK2; cancer; p53; apoptosis; angiogenesis Received : September 02, 2016 Accepted : January 04, 2017 Published : January 18, 2017 Abstract The HIPK2 (serine/threonine homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2) is a “caretaker” gene, its inactivation increases tumorigenicity while its activation inhibits tumor growth. This report reviews the anti-tumorigenic mechanisms of HIPK2, which include promotion of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis in hypoxia, prevention of tumor invasion/metastasis and attenuation of multidrug resistance in cancer. Additionally, we summarize conditions or factors that may increase HIPK2 activity.