Innovative therapy of ovarian cancer based on overexpression of CD44 receptor

Abstract

Ovarian carcinoma constitutes the main cause of cancer-related death among women. The curability rates remain low despite rapid advances in medicine. Thus, the search for new and improved methods continues, with CD44- targeting as one of them. CD44 is a cell-surface glycoprotein, which binds to its ligand – hyaluronic acid (HA) – and regulates crucial processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation and migration. Overexpression of CD44, observed in many ovarian cancer cells, is used in creating carriers for selective delivery of various drugs (paclitaxel, doxorubicin, camptothecin or cisplatin) to cancer cells. In this article, we summarized the current state of knowledge regarding CD44-targeting as a new and more efficient way of ovarian cancer treatment, with high potential and promising therapeutic perspectives.