A tumor suppressor DLC1: The functions and signal pathways

J Cell Physiol. 2020 Jun;235(6):4999-5007. doi: 10.1002/jcp.29402. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Abstract

Deleted in liver cancer-1 (DLC1), a potential tumor suppressor, acts as a GTPase-activating protein for Rho family members. In many human cancers, the DLC1 expression is frequently downregulated or inactivated, which allows cancer cells to proliferate and disseminate. In this review, we describe the characteristics and other members of the DLC1 family and delineate the signal pathways DLC1 involved in regulating cancer cell growth, colony formation, apoptosis, senescence, autophagy, migration and invasion. In addition, we explore the clinical data of DLC1 and the mechanisms that natural products upregulate the DLC1 expression to inhibit cancer. Despite these insights, many important unanswered questions remain about the exact mechanisms of DLC1-mediated cancer suppression.

Keywords: DLC1; apoptosis; migration; proliferation; tumor suppressor.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DLC1 protein, human
  • GTPase-Activating Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins