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Review
. 2022 Feb;123(2):215-230.
doi: 10.1002/jcb.30188. Epub 2021 Dec 13.

Role of T-box genes in cancer, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells

Gengle Niu  1 , Jin Hao  1 , Surui Sheng  2 , Fangyuan Wen  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Role of T-box genes in cancer, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells

Gengle Niu et al. J Cell Biochem. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Sharing a common DNA binding motif called T-box, transcription factor T-box gene family controls embryonic development and is also involved in cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer metastasis shows therapy resistance and involves complex processes. Among them, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) triggers cancer cell invasiveness and the acquisition of stemness of cancer cells, called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are a small fraction of tumor bulk and are capable of self-renewal and tumorsphere formation. Recent progress has highlighted the critical roles of T-box genes in cancer progression, EMT, and CSC function, and such regulatory functions of T-box genes have emerged as potential therapeutic candidates for cancer. Herein we summarize the current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of T-box genes in cancer, EMT, and CSCs, and discuss the implications of targeting T-box genes as anticancer therapeutics.

Keywords: T-box transcription factor; TBX genes; cancer stem cells; cancer therapy; epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

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References

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