PMID-29843147 – LL-37: Roles and Mechanisms in Cancer
Chen X et al. "Roles and Mechanisms of Human Cathelicidin LL-37 in Cancer," Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 2018;47(3):1060-1073. doi:10.1159/000490183
Quick Reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| PMID | 29843147 |
| DOI | 10.1159/000490183 |
| Year | 2018 |
| Journal | Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry |
| Study Type | Narrative Review |
| Evidence Level | V |
| Sample | N/A (review) |
| Peptide(s) Studied | LL-37 |
Key Findings
- CRITICAL DUAL ROLE: LL-37 exhibits both anti-cancer and pro-cancer effects depending on cancer type and tissue context
- Anti-cancer effects (GI cancers): LL-37 suppresses gastric cancer and colon cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and inhibits tumor angiogenesis via multiple pathways
- Pro-cancer effects (hormone-sensitive cancers): LL-37 promotes proliferation and metastasis in breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer
- In breast cancer, LL-37 activates EGFR/HER2 signaling and promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
- In ovarian cancer, LL-37 recruits mesenchymal stem cells to the tumor microenvironment, promoting tumor growth
- The dual role appears related to differential receptor engagement: FPRL1/FPR2 activation in some cancers vs. P2X7-mediated apoptosis in others
- Tissue-specific expression levels of LL-37 correlate with prognosis differently across cancer types
Study Design
Narrative review comprehensively examining the dual role of LL-37 across cancer types. Synthesizes in vitro, in vivo, and clinical observational data on LL-37 expression and function in gastric, colon, breast, ovarian, lung, melanoma, and prostate cancers.
Limitations
- Narrative review without systematic search methodology
- Much of the evidence is from in vitro and animal studies; human clinical data is limited
- Mechanisms of the dual role are not fully elucidated
- Dose-response relationships for LL-37 in cancer contexts are poorly defined
Clinical Relevance
This is a critical safety reference for LL-37 prescribing. The tissue-specific dual role means that LL-37 administration requires careful consideration of the patient's cancer history. While LL-37 may benefit GI cancer prevention/treatment, it poses theoretical risks in patients with breast, ovarian, or lung cancer history. Practitioners must screen for hormone-sensitive cancer history before including LL-37 in immune or gut healing protocols.
Related
#research #narrative-review #evidence-level-V #cancer