Inside the stemness engine: Mechanistic links between deregulated transcription factors and stemness in cancer. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ervin, Egle-Helene; French, Rhiannon; Chang, Chao-Hui; Pauklin, Siim
• Is Part Of: Seminars in cancer biology. Volume 87(2023)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: EMT epithelial-mesenchymal transition -- EMT-TFs EMT transcription factors -- ER endoplasmic reticulum -- lncRNA long non-coding RNA -- MET mesenchymal-epithelial transition -- TF transcription factor -- TSS transcription start site; Cancer -- Stemness -- Cancer stem cell -- Transcription factor -- Gene expression regulation; Cancer -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Review Literature; Cancer -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.11.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-579X

Abstract

Abstract: Cell identity is largely determined by its transcriptional profile. In tumour, deregulation of transcription factor expression and/or activity enables cancer cell to acquire a stem-like state characterised by capacity to self-renew, differentiate and form tumours in vivo. These stem-like cancer cells are highly metastatic and therapy resistant, thus warranting a more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms downstream of the transcription factors that mediate the establishment of stemness state. Here, we review recent research findings that provide a mechanistic link between the commonly deregulated transcription factors and stemness in cancer. In particular, we describe the role of master transcription factors (SOX, OCT4, NANOG, KLF, BRACHYURY, SALL, HOX, FOX and RUNX), signalling-regulated transcription factors (SMAD, β-catenin, YAP, TAZ, AP-1, NOTCH, STAT, GLI, ETS and NF-κB) and unclassified transcription factors (c-MYC, HIF, EMT transcription factors and P53) across diverse tumour types, thereby yielding a comprehensive overview identifying shared downstream targets, highlighting unique mechanisms and discussing complexities.