Forkhead box O proteins: Crucial regulators of cancer EMT

Zhiqiang Ma; Zhenlong Xin; Wei Hu; Shuai Jiang; Zhi Yang; Xiaolong Yan; Xiaofei Li; Yang Yang; Fulin Chen

doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.02.004

Forkhead box O proteins: Crucial regulators of cancer EMT

Semin Cancer Biol. 2018 Jun:50:21-31. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.02.004. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

Authors

Zhiqiang Ma¹, Zhenlong Xin², Wei Hu³, Shuai Jiang⁴, Zhi Yang⁵, Xiaolong Yan⁶, Xiaofei Li⁶, Yang Yang⁷, Fulin Chen⁸

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069 China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an 710038, China.
² Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and The Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
³ Department of Immunology, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
⁴ Department of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
⁶ Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an 710038, China.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069 China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China. Electronic address: yang200214yy@163.com.
⁸ Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an 710069 China. Electronic address: chenfl@nwu.edu.cn.

PMID: 29427645
DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.02.004

Abstract

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an acknowledged cellular transition process in which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal-like properties that endow cancer cells with increased migratory and invasive behavior. Forkhead box O (FOXO) proteins have been shown to orchestrate multiple EMT-associated pathways and EMT-related transcription factors (EMT-TFs), thereby modulating the EMT process. The focus of the current review is to evaluate the latest research progress regarding the roles of FOXO proteins in cancer EMT. First, a brief overview of the EMT process in cancer and a general background on the FOXO family are provided. Next, we present the interactions between FOXO proteins and multiple EMT-associated pathways during malignancy development. Finally, we propose several novel potential directions for future research. Collectively, the information compiled herein should serve as a comprehensive repository of information on this topic and should aid in the design of additional studies and the future development of FOXO proteins as therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Cancer; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Forkhead box O.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics*
Humans
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Multigene Family / genetics*
Neoplasms / genetics*
Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

Forkhead Transcription Factors