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Tan J, Sun X, Zhao H, Guan H, Gao S, Zhou P. Double-strand DNA break repair: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e388. [PMID: 37808268 PMCID: PMC10556206 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Double-strand break (DSB), a significant DNA damage brought on by ionizing radiation, acts as an initiating signal in tumor radiotherapy, causing cancer cells death. The two primary pathways for DNA DSB repair in mammalian cells are nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR), which cooperate and compete with one another to achieve effective repair. The DSB repair mechanism depends on numerous regulatory variables. DSB recognition and the recruitment of DNA repair components, for instance, depend on the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex and the Ku70/80 heterodimer/DNA-PKcs (DNA-PK) complex, whose control is crucial in determining the DSB repair pathway choice and efficiency of HR and NHEJ. In-depth elucidation on the DSB repair pathway's molecular mechanisms has greatly facilitated for creation of repair proteins or pathways-specific inhibitors to advance precise cancer therapy and boost the effectiveness of cancer radiotherapy. The architectures, roles, molecular processes, and inhibitors of significant target proteins in the DSB repair pathways are reviewed in this article. The strategy and application in cancer therapy are also discussed based on the advancement of inhibitors targeted DSB damage response and repair proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinpeng Tan
- Hengyang Medical CollegeUniversity of South ChinaHengyangHunan ProvinceChina
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Xingyao Sun
- Hengyang Medical CollegeUniversity of South ChinaHengyangHunan ProvinceChina
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Hongling Zhao
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Hua Guan
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Ping‐Kun Zhou
- Hengyang Medical CollegeUniversity of South ChinaHengyangHunan ProvinceChina
- Department of Radiation BiologyBeijing Key Laboratory for RadiobiologyBeijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
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Brodaczewska K, Majewska A, Filipiak-Duliban A, Kieda C. Pten knockout affects drug resistance differently in melanoma and kidney cancer. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1187-1199. [PMID: 37673853 PMCID: PMC10539195 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00523-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND PTEN is a tumor suppressor that is often mutated and nonfunctional in many types of cancer. The high heterogeneity of PTEN function between tumor types makes new Pten knockout models necessary to assess its impact on cancer progression and/or treatment outcomes. METHODS We aimed to show the effect of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Pten knockout on murine melanoma (B16 F10) and kidney cancer (Renca) cells. We evaluated the effect of PTEN deregulation on tumor progression in vivo and in vitro, as well as on the effectiveness of drug treatment in vitro. In addition, we studied the molecular changes induced by Pten knockout. RESULTS In both models, Pten mutation did not cause significant changes in cell proliferation in vitro or in vivo. Cells with Pten knockout differed in sensitivity to cisplatin treatment: in B16 F10 cells, the lack of PTEN induced sensitivity and, in Renca cells, resistance to drug treatment. Accumulation of pAKT was observed in both cell lines, but only Renca cells showed upregulation of the p53 level after Pten knockout. PTEN deregulation also varied in the way that it altered PAI-1 secretion in the tested models, showing a decrease in PAI-1 in B16 F10 Pten/KO and an increase in Renca Pten/KO cells. In kidney cancer cells, Pten knockout caused changes in epithelial to mesenchymal transition marker expression, with downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of Snail, Mmp9, and Acta2 (α-SMA). CONCLUSIONS The results confirmed heterogenous cell responses to PTEN loss, which may lead to a better understanding of the role of PTEN in particular types of tumors and points to PTEN as a therapeutic target for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Brodaczewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 01-141, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Majewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 01-141, Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine (Medical University of Warsaw), Żwirki I Wigury 61, 02-091, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Filipiak-Duliban
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 01-141, Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine (Medical University of Warsaw), Żwirki I Wigury 61, 02-091, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Claudine Kieda
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, Szaserów 128, 01-141, Warsaw, Poland
- Center for Molecular Biophysics UPR 4301, CNRS, 45071, Orleans, France
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Sirhan Z, Alojair R, Thyagarajan A, Sahu RP. Therapeutic Implications of PTEN in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2090. [PMID: 37631304 PMCID: PMC10458395 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains one of the major human malignancies affecting both men and women worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most prevalent type. Multiple mechanisms have been identified that favor tumor growth as well as impede the efficacy of therapeutic regimens in lung cancer patients. Among tumor suppressor genes that play critical roles in regulating cancer growth, the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) constitutes one of the important family members implicated in controlling various functional activities of tumor cells, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Notably, clinical studies have also documented that lung tumors having an impaired, mutated, or loss of PTEN are associated with low survival or high tumor recurrence rates. To that end, PTEN has been explored as a promising target for anti-cancer agents. Importantly, the ability of PTEN to crosstalk with several signaling pathways provides new approaches to devise effective treatment options for lung cancer treatment. The current review highlights the significance of PTEN and its implications in therapeutic approaches against NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anita Thyagarajan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA; (Z.S.); (R.A.)
| | - Ravi P. Sahu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA; (Z.S.); (R.A.)
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Liu J, Pan Y, Liu Y, Wei W, Hu X, Xin W, Chen N. The regulation of PTEN: Novel insights into functions as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:1693-1715. [PMID: 37334436 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes the implications of the primary tumor suppressor protein phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in aggressive cancer development. PTEN interacts with other cellular proteins or factors suggesting the existence of an intricate molecular network that regulates their oncogenic function. Accumulating evidence has shown that PTEN exists and plays a role in the cytoplasmic organelles and in the nucleus. PTEN blocks phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)-protein kinase B-mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway by dephosphorylating phosphatidylinositol (PI)-3,4,5-triphosphate to PI-4,5-bisphosphate thus counteracting PI3K function. Studies have shown that PTEN expression is tightly regulated at transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational levels (including protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications). Despite recent advances in PTEN research, the regulation and function of the PTEN gene remain largely unknown. How mutation or loss of specific exons in the PTEN gene occurs and involves in cancer development is not clear. This review illustrates the regulatory mechanisms of PTEN expression and discusses how PTEN participates in tumor development and/or suppression. Future prospects for the clinical applications are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongli Pan
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yuheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xiaoping Hu
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenqiang Xin
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, China
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Moghaddam M, Vivarelli S, Falzone L, Libra M, Bonavida B. Cancer resistance via the downregulation of the tumor suppressors RKIP and PTEN expressions: therapeutic implications. Explor Target Antitumor Ther 2023; 4:170-207. [PMID: 37205308 PMCID: PMC10185445 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) has been reported to be underexpressed in many cancers and plays a role in the regulation of tumor cells' survival, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, hence, a tumor suppressor. RKIP also regulates tumor cell resistance to cytotoxic drugs/cells. Likewise, the tumor suppressor, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), which inhibits the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway, is either mutated, underexpressed, or deleted in many cancers and shares with RKIP its anti-tumor properties and its regulation in resistance. The transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulations of RKIP and PTEN expressions and their roles in resistance were reviewed. The underlying mechanism of the interrelationship between the signaling expressions of RKIP and PTEN in cancer is not clear. Several pathways are regulated by RKIP and PTEN and the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations of RKIP and PTEN is significantly altered in cancers. In addition, RKIP and PTEN play a key role in the regulation of tumor cells response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, molecular and bioinformatic data revealed crosstalk signaling networks that regulate the expressions of both RKIP and PTEN. These crosstalks involved the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/PI3K pathways and the dysregulated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)/Snail/Yin Yang 1 (YY1)/RKIP/PTEN loop in many cancers. Furthermore, further bioinformatic analyses were performed to investigate the correlations (positive or negative) and the prognostic significance of the expressions of RKIP or PTEN in 31 different human cancers. These analyses were not uniform and only revealed that there was a positive correlation between the expression of RKIP and PTEN only in few cancers. These findings demonstrated the existence of signaling cross-talks between RKIP and PTEN and both regulate resistance. Targeting either RKIP or PTEN (alone or in combination with other therapies) may be sufficient to therapeutically inhibit tumor growth and reverse the tumor resistance to cytotoxic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Moghaddam
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), East Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Silvia Vivarelli
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Occupational Medicine Section, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Luca Falzone
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, National Cancer Institute IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Research Centre for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Benjamin Bonavida
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), East Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Correspondence: Benjamin Bonavida, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1602 Molecular Sciences Building, 609 Charles E. Young Drive, East Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Lieb V, Abdulrahman A, Weigelt K, Hauch S, Gombert M, Guzman J, Bellut L, Goebell PJ, Stöhr R, Hartmann A, Wullich B, Taubert H, Wach S. Cell-Free DNA Sequencing Reveals Gene Variants in DNA Damage Repair Genes Associated with Prognosis of Prostate Cancer Patients. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223618. [PMID: 36429046 PMCID: PMC9688453 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we further analyzed the data obtained in our previous study, where we investigated the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of 34 progressive prostate cancer patients via targeted sequencing. Here, we studied the occurrence and prognostic impact of sequence variants according to their clinical pathological significance (CPS) or their functional impact (FI) in 23 DNA damage repair (DDR) genes with a focus on the ATM serine/threonine kinase gene (ATM). All patients had at least one DDR gene with a CPS or FI variant. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the group with a higher number of CPS variants in DDR genes had a shorter time to treatment change (TTC) compared to the group with a lower number of CPS variants (p = 0.038). Analysis of each DDR gene revealed that CPS variants in the ATM gene and FI variants in the nibrin (NBN) gene showed a shorter TTC (p = 0.034 and p = 0.042). In addition, patients with CPS variants in the ATM gene had shorter overall survival (OS; p = 0.022) and disease-specific survival (DSS; p = 0.010) than patients without these variants. Interestingly, patients with CPS variants in seven DDR genes possessed a better OS (p = 0.008) and DSS (p = 0.009), and patients with FI variants in four DDR genes showed a better OS (p = 0.007) and DSS (p = 0.008). Together, these findings demonstrated that the analysis of cfDNA for gene variants in DDR genes provides prognostic information that may be helpful for future temporal and targeted treatment decisions for advanced PCa patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Lieb
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Amer Abdulrahman
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katrin Weigelt
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | | | | | - Juan Guzman
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Laura Bellut
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter J. Goebell
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Robert Stöhr
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wullich
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Helge Taubert
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-93138523373
| | - Sven Wach
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Leu JD, Lin ST, Chen CT, Chang CA, Lee YJ. BPR0C261, An Analogous of Microtubule Disrupting Agent D-24851 Enhances the Radiosensitivity of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells via p53-Dependent and p53-Independent Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23. [PMID: 36430560 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Destabilization of microtubule dynamics is a primary strategy to inhibit fast growing tumor cells. The low cytotoxic derivative of microtubule inhibitor D-24851, named BPR0C261 exhibits antitumor activity via oral administration. In this study, we investigated if BPR0C261 could modulate the radiation response of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with or without p53 expression. (2) Different doses of BPR0C261 was used to treat human NSCLC A549 (p53+/+) cells and H1299 (p53-/-) cells. The cytotoxicity, radiosensitivity, cell cycle distribution, DNA damage, and protein expression were evaluated using an MTT assay, a colony formation assay, flow cytometry, a comet assay, and an immunoblotting analysis, respectively. (3) BPR0C261 showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity on A549 cells and H1299 cells with IC50 at 0.38 μM and 0.86 μM, respectively. BPR0C261 also induced maximum G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in both cell lines after 24 h of treatment with a dose-dependent manner. The colony formation analysis demonstrated that a combination of low concentration of BPR0C261 and X-rays caused a synergistic radiosensitizing effect on NSCLC cells. Additionally, we found that a low concentration of BPR0C261 was sufficient to induce DNA damage in these cells, and it increased the level of DNA damage induced by a fractionation radiation dose (2 Gy) of conventional radiotherapy. Furthermore, the p53 protein level of A549 cell line was upregulated by BPR0C261. On the other hand, the expression of PTEN tumor suppressor was found to be upregulated in H1299 cells but not in A549 cells under the same treatment. Although radiation could not induce PTEN in H1299 cells, a combination of low concentration of BPR0C261 and radiation could reverse this situation. (4) BPR0C261 exhibits specific anticancer effects on NSCLC cells by the enhancement of DNA damage and radiosensitivity with p53-dependent and p53-independent/PTEN-dependent manners. The combination of radiation and BPR0C261 may provide an important strategy for the improvement of radiotherapeutic treatment.
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Fedorova O, Parfenyev S, Daks A, Shuvalov O, Barlev NA. The Role of PTEN in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153786. [PMID: 35954450 PMCID: PMC9367281 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The PTEN phosphatase is a ubiquitously expressed tumor suppressor, which inhibits the PI3K/AKT pathway in the cell. The PI3K/AKT pathway is considered to be one of the main signaling pathways that drives the proliferation of cancer cells. Furthermore, the same pathway controls the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is an evolutionarily conserved developmental program, which, upon aberrant reactivation, is also involved in the formation of cancer metastases. Importantly, metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. In this review, we discuss the literature data that highlight the role of PTEN in EMT. Based on this knowledge, we speculate about new possible strategies for cancer treatment. Abstract Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog deleted on Chromosome 10 (PTEN) is one of the critical tumor suppressor genes and the main negative regulator of the PI3K pathway. PTEN is frequently found to be inactivated, either partially or fully, in various malignancies. The PI3K/AKT pathway is considered to be one of the main signaling cues that drives the proliferation of cells. Perhaps it is not surprising, then, that this pathway is hyperactivated in highly proliferative tumors. Importantly, the PI3K/AKT pathway also coordinates the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is pivotal for the initiation of metastases and hence is regarded as an attractive target for the treatment of metastatic cancer. It was shown that PTEN suppresses EMT, although the exact mechanism of this effect is still not fully understood. This review is an attempt to systematize the published information on the role of PTEN in the development of malignant tumors, with a main focus on the regulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in EMT.
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