ADAM Proteases in Cancer: Biological Roles, Therapeutic Challenges, and Emerging Opportunities

ADAM (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase) family members are multifunctional transmembrane proteases that govern tumorigenesis and metastasis by cleaving membrane-bound substrates such as growth factors, cytokines, and cell adhesion molecules. Several ADAMs, including ADAM8, ADAM9, ADAM10, ADAM12, and ADAM17, are overexpressed in malignancies and are linked with a poor prognosis. These proteases contribute to tumour growth by regulating cell proliferation, cell fate, invasion, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. ADAM10 and ADAM17, especially, facilitate the shedding of critical developmental and growth factors and their receptors, as well as immuno-regulatory molecules, hence promoting tumour progression, immune escape, and resistance to therapy. Recent work has unveiled multiple regulatory pathways that modulate ADAM functions, which include trafficking, dimerization, and conformational modifications that affect substrate accessibility. These observations have rekindled efforts to produce selective ADAM inhibitors, avoiding the off-target consequences reported with early small molecule inhibitors targeting the enzyme active site, which is conserved also in Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs). Promising approaches tested in preclinical models and, in some cases, clinical settings include more selective small-molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates designed to specifically target ADAMs. In this review, we will discuss the emerging roles of ADAMs in Cancer biology, as well as the molecular processes that control their function. We further discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting ADAMs, with a focus on recent advances and future directions in the development of ADAM-specific Cancer therapies.