Targeting endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling in ovarian cancer therapy

Abstract

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), an organelle present in various eukaryotic cells, is responsible for intracellular protein synthesis, post-translational modification, and folding and transport, as well as the regulation of lipid and steroid metabolism and Ca2+ homeostasis. Hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, and a low pH tumor microenvironment lead to the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins in the ER, thus activating ER stress (ERS) and the unfolded protein response, and resulting in either restoration of cellular homeostasis or cell death. ERS plays a crucial role in cancer oncogenesis, progression, and response to therapies. This article reviews current studies relating ERS to ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynecologic malignancy among women globally, and discusses pharmacological agents and possible targets for therapeutic intervention.