PBX1, EMCN and ERG are associated with the sub-clusters and the prognosis of VHL mutant clear cell renal cell carcinoma

PBX1 as a novel master regulator in cancer: Its regulation, molecular biology, and therapeutic applications

PBX1 is a critical transcription factor at the top of various cell fate-determining pathways. In cancer, PBX1 stands at the crossroads of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways and mediates responses by recruiting a broad repertoire of downstream targets. Research thus far has corroborated the involvement of PBX1 in cancer proliferation, resisting apoptosis, tumor-associated neoangiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis, immune evasion, genome instability, and dysregulating cellular metabolism. Recently, our understanding of the functional regulation of the PBX1 protein has advanced, as increasing evidence has depicted a regulatory network consisting of transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels of control mechanisms. Furthermore, accumulating studies have supported the clinical utilization of PBX1 as a prognostic or therapeutic target in cancer. Preliminary results showed that PBX1 entails vast potential as a targetable master regulator in the treatment of cancer, particularly in those with high-risk features and resistance to other therapeutic strategies. In this review, we will explore the regulation, protein-protein interactions, molecular pathways, clinical application, and future challenges of PBX1.

Comprehensive overview of the role of PBX1 in mammalian kidneys

Pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox transcription factor 1 (PBX1) is a member of the TALE (three-amino acid loop extension) family and functions as a homeodomain transcription factor (TF). When dimerized with other TALE proteins, it can act as a pioneer factor and provide regulatory sequences via interaction with partners. In vertebrates, PBX1 is expressed during the blastula stage, and its germline variations in humans are interrelated with syndromic anomalies of the kidney, which plays an important role in hematopoiesis and immunity among vertebrates. Herein, we summarize the existing data on PBX1 functions and the impact of PBX1 on renal tumors, PBX1-deficient animal models, and blood vessels in mammalian kidneys. The data indicated that the interaction of PBX1 with different partners such as the HOX genes is responsible for abnormal proliferation and variation of the embryonic mesenchyme, while truncating variants were shown to cause milder phenotypes (mostly cryptorchidism and deafness). Although such interactions have been identified to be the cause of many defects in mammals, some phenotypic variations are yet to be understood. Thus, further research on the TALE family is required.

Discovering Breast Cancer Biomarkers Candidates through mRNA Expression Analysis Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Database

Background: Research on the discovery of tumor biomarkers based on big data analysis is actively being conducted. This study aimed to secure foundational data for identifying new biomarkers of breast cancer via breast cancer datasets in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Methods: The mRNA profiles of 526 breast cancer and 60 adjacent non-cancerous breast tissues collected from TCGA datasets were analyzed via MultiExperiment Viewer and GraphPad Prism. Diagnostic performance was analyzed by identifying the pathological grades of the selected differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and the expression patterns of molecular subtypes. Results: Via DE mRNA profile analysis, we selected 14 mRNAs with downregulated expression (HADH, CPN2, ADAM33, TDRD10, SNF1LK2, HBA2, KCNIP2, EPB42, PYGM, CEP68, ING3, EMCN, SYF2, and DTWD1) and six mRNAs with upregulated expression (ZNF8, TOMM40, EVPL, EPN3, AP1M2, and SPINT2) in breast cancer tissues compared to that in non-cancerous tissues (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In total, 20 DE mRNAs had an area under cover of 0.9 or higher, demonstrating excellent diagnostic performance in breast cancer. Therefore, the results of this study will provide foundational data for planning preliminary studies to identify new tumor biomarkers.