Abstract
Malignant tumors aberrantly overexpress various embryonic genes and proto-oncogenes, including a variety of cancer-testis antigens (CTAs). CTAs belong to a class of testis-derived proteins which are only expressed in germ cells in the male testis, and the expression of CTA genes is entirely silenced in the adult somatic tissues. They are, however, aberrantly overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumor tissues. Emerging evidence shows that a number of CTAs promote epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) and genesis of cancer stem like cells, escalating tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis. The can cer-testis antigens, such as SSX, MAGE-D4B, CAGE, piwil2, and CT45A1, upregulate EMT and metastatic genes, promoting EMT and tumor dissemination. In addition, certain members of CTAs, including Piwil2, DNAJB8, CT45A1, MAGE-A, GAGE, and SPANX, are implicated in the initiation or maintenance, of cancer stem-like cells, promoting tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Clinically CTAs are closely associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Intriguely, CTAs are strongly immunogenic and normally restricted to the male testis after birth, however, these proteins are aberrantly overexpressed in cancer stem-like cells and in a variety of cancers, suggesting their target potential for cancer immunotherapy, as diagnostic biomarkers, and as targets for novel anticancer drug discovery. Thus, the targeting of tumorigenic CTAs is a promising strategy to eradicate cancer stem-like cells and inhibit tumorigenesis for effective cancer treatment.
Keywords: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cells, cancer-testis antigens, tumorigenesis, cancer, immunotherapy.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Cancer/Testis Antigens Trigger Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Genesis of Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Volume: 21 Issue: 10
Author(s): Ping Yang, Zihe Huo, Huaidong Liao and Quansheng Zhou
Affiliation:
Keywords: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cells, cancer-testis antigens, tumorigenesis, cancer, immunotherapy.
Abstract: Malignant tumors aberrantly overexpress various embryonic genes and proto-oncogenes, including a variety of cancer-testis antigens (CTAs). CTAs belong to a class of testis-derived proteins which are only expressed in germ cells in the male testis, and the expression of CTA genes is entirely silenced in the adult somatic tissues. They are, however, aberrantly overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumor tissues. Emerging evidence shows that a number of CTAs promote epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) and genesis of cancer stem like cells, escalating tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis. The can cer-testis antigens, such as SSX, MAGE-D4B, CAGE, piwil2, and CT45A1, upregulate EMT and metastatic genes, promoting EMT and tumor dissemination. In addition, certain members of CTAs, including Piwil2, DNAJB8, CT45A1, MAGE-A, GAGE, and SPANX, are implicated in the initiation or maintenance, of cancer stem-like cells, promoting tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Clinically CTAs are closely associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Intriguely, CTAs are strongly immunogenic and normally restricted to the male testis after birth, however, these proteins are aberrantly overexpressed in cancer stem-like cells and in a variety of cancers, suggesting their target potential for cancer immunotherapy, as diagnostic biomarkers, and as targets for novel anticancer drug discovery. Thus, the targeting of tumorigenic CTAs is a promising strategy to eradicate cancer stem-like cells and inhibit tumorigenesis for effective cancer treatment.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Yang Ping, Huo Zihe, Liao Huaidong and Zhou Quansheng, Cancer/Testis Antigens Trigger Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Genesis of Cancer Stem-Like Cells, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666141211154707
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666141211154707 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
The Role of EGFR-Met Interactions in the Pathogenesis of Glioblastoma and Resistance to Treatment
Current Cancer Drug Targets Electronic Noses in Medical Diagnostics
Current Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis and Applications of Hydrogels in Cancer Therapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Tumor Thermal Ablation Enhancement by Micromaterials
Current Drug Delivery Synthesis and Biological Activities of Organotin(IV) Complexes as Antitumoral and Antimicrobial Agents. A Review
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Retinoids in Clinical Use
Medicinal Chemistry Applications of Ultrasound Elastography in Musculoskeletal Imaging: Technical Aspects and Review of the Literature
Current Medical Imaging Targeting Cancer Stem Cells with Repurposed Drugs to Improve Current Therapies
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Delta Np63 alpha – Responsive microRNA Modulate the Expression of Metabolic Enzymes
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: A New Paradigm for Targeting Various Diseases
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Study of Cancer Cell Lines with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)/ Vibrational Absorption (VA) Spectroscopy
Current Physical Chemistry Isothiocyanates as Cancer Chemopreventive Agents: Their Biological Activities and Metabolism in Rodents and Humans
Current Drug Metabolism Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Induced Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer Cells Via CXCR4 is Mediated by the Viral Envelope Protein But Does Not Require CD4
Current HIV Research From Natural Products to Designer Drugs: Development and Molecular Mechanisms Action of Novel Anti-Microtubule Breast Cancer Therapeutics
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial [Hot Topic: Hydrogen Sulfide: From Molecular Biology to Pharmacology Guest Editor: Stefano Fiorucci)]
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) The Digenea Parasite Opisthorchis felineus: A Target for the Discovery and Development of Novel Drugs
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Green Tea Catechins as Novel Antitumor and Antiangiogenic Compounds
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Cancer Agents Assessment of the Health Effects of Chemicals in Humans: II. Construction of an Adverse Effects Database for QSAR Modeling
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Strategies for the Biological Evaluation of Gold Anticancer Agents
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Fluorine-18 Labeled Amino Acids for Oncologic Imaging with Positron Emission Tomography
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry