Fig. 1: Renin-angiotensin system signalling in cancer.
From: Unlocking the potential of targeting the angiotensin II type 1 receptor in cancer
Angiotensinogen is enzymatically cleaved into bioactive peptides which activate GPCRs, AT1R, AT2R and MasR. AT1R signalling induces various cancer related processes in both tumour cells and CAFs via various intracellular signalling cascades and EGFR transactivation. The counter-regulatory arm of the RAS, AT2R and MasR, inhibits various intracellular signalling cascades to reduce cancer related processes. Angiotensin receptor blockers specifically inhibit AT1R signalling, reducing pro-cancer signalling and simultaneously increasing anti-cancer signalling by freeing Ang II to bind to AT2R or be converted into Ang 1-7.
