Unmasking the tumorigenic potential of cellular prion protein in cancer progression.

The cellular prion protein (PrP), altered forms of which are associated with neurological prion disorders, is overexpressed in gastric, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Its overexpression affects cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and confers resistance to chemotherapy. PrP is a prospective target for therapeutic and biomarker development and the study of PrP may offer new theoretical insights into cancer biology. This review explores the molecular mechanism by which PrP overexpression contributes to the promotion of cancer. We hypothesise that PrP may have a role in angiogenesis. We also consider the possible use of lipid nanoparticles as the therapeutic agent to target overexpressed PrP selectively in cancer. An improved knowledge of these molecular mechanisms may reveal additional targets for cancer treatment. Further research is required to elucidate these mechanisms and to formulate targeted interventions.