Chapter 8: Histamine in Cancer

VANINA A MEDINA; GABRIELLA CORUZZI; DIEGO J MARTINEL LAMAS; MARISTELLA ADAMI; FRANCESCA LEVI-SCHAFFER; MICHA BEN-ZIMRA; HUBERT SCHWELBERGER; ELENA S RIVERA

Histamine H4 Receptor: a Novel Drug Target for Immunoregulation and Inflammation

Versita, Versita Ltd

Año: 2013; p. 261 - 310

This chapter addresses the latest evidence regarding the involvement of histamine and histamine receptors in cancer development and progression with particular attention to H4R. The expression of H4R in different cell lines, the signal transduction pathways and biological responses associated with H4R as well as the in vivo treatment of experimental tumours with H4R ligands will be reviewed. The controversial aspects of histaminergic involvement in gastrointestinal physiopathology will be discussed, with particular reference to gastric mucosal damage and intestinal inflammation. In addition, the existing evidence of the presence of mast cells in human and murine lung cancer and the effect of histamine and other mast cell derived mediators in this cancer will be presented. Recent findings support the therapeutic potential of H4R ligands in melanoma, breast, colon, pancreatic and lung cancer and the exploitation of the H4R as a molecular target for novel approaches in the treatment of cancer.