Glucagon-like peptide 2 in colon carcinogenesis: possible target for anti-cancer therapy?

The role of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP2) in colon tissue has been studied extensively, from the time it was discovered that GLP2 promotes intestinal growth. A large number of studies have shown potential applications for GLP2 in human therapy. However, recent data have suggested the notion that GLP2 plays a key role in colon carcinogenesis. Questions have been arisen regarding the pro-proliferative effects of GLP2 and whether they might promote intestinal healing or advance colon tumor growth. Here, we provide striking evidence to show that the physiological activities of GLP2 are closely related to cancer-related molecular pathways that have been shown to circumvent drug desensitization. We further explore the different pathways of GLP2-signaling to suggest suitable GLP2-based therapeutic strategies in colon cancer.