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Review
. 2019 Apr 18;10(1):124.
doi: 10.1186/s13287-019-1222-0.

Emerging role of F-box proteins in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cells in human cancers

Yizuo Song  1 , Min Lin  1 , Yi Liu  1 , Zhi-Wei Wang  2   3 , Xueqiong Zhu  4
Affiliations
Review

Emerging role of F-box proteins in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cells in human cancers

Yizuo Song et al. Stem Cell Res Ther. .

Abstract

Emerging evidence shows that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in tumor invasion, metastasis, cancer stem cells, and drug resistance. Data obtained thus far have revealed that F-box proteins are critically involved in the regulation of the EMT process and stem cell differentiation in human cancers. In this review, we will briefly describe the role of EMT and stem cells in cell metastasis and drug resistance. We will also highlight how numerous F-box proteins govern the EMT process and stem cell survival by controlling their downstream targets. Additionally, we will discuss whether F-box proteins involved in drug resistance are associated with EMT and cancer stem cells. Targeting these F-box proteins might be a potential therapeutic strategy to reverse EMT and inhibit cancer stem cells and thus overcome drug resistance in human cancers.

Keywords: Cancer; Drug resistance; EMT; F-box protein; Metastasis; Stem cells.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Illustration of how F-box proteins govern EMT-inducing transcription factors. F-box proteins regulate EMT through proteolysis of EMT-inducing factors. FBXL, F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein; FBXW, F-box and WD-40 domain protein; FBXO, F-box only protein
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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