How neuroimmune semaphorin 4A regulates cancer-related pathological processes

What is it about?

Neuroimmune semaphorin 4A (Sema4A) serves as a critical regulator of neuronal growth and immune cell function. However, its role in cancer is not understood. In this mini-review, we discuss recent publications and our own data which show controversial results. It is still unclear if Sema4A is a protective or a promoting molecule in cancer-related angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis.

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Why is it important?

Current advances in cancer immunotherapy aimed at targeting the specific molecules on immune cells which need to be either activated or inactivated (immune checkpoints) in order to achieve the potent anti-cancer immune response demonstrated a high therapeutic potential in many types of cancer. However, some of the checkpoint-based treatments show serious side-effects or are being not efficient to eliminate cancer completely and currently being tested in combination with other targets. The advances of targeting Sema4A, either alone or in a combination with known checkpoint(s), lay in a broad Sema4A function not only as a costimulatory (checkpoint) molecule for immune cell activation, but also in angiogenesis and inflammation.