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Review
. 2022 Sep 27;11(19):3024.
doi: 10.3390/cells11193024.

STAT3 and Its Pathways' Dysregulation-Underestimated Role in Urological Tumors

Maciej Golus  1 , Piotr Bugajski  2 , Joanna Chorbińska  1 , Wojciech Krajewski  1 , Artur Lemiński  3 , Jolanta Saczko  2 , Julita Kulbacka  2 , Tomasz Szydełko  1 , Bartosz Małkiewicz  1
Affiliations
Review

STAT3 and Its Pathways' Dysregulation-Underestimated Role in Urological Tumors

Maciej Golus et al. Cells. .

Abstract

Nowadays, molecular research is essential for the better understanding of tumor cells' pathophysiology. The increasing number of neoplasms is taken under 'the molecular magnifying glass'; therefore, it is possible to discover the complex relationships between cytophysiology and tumor cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) belongs to the family of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors called STATs, which comprises seven members: STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B, and STAT6. Those proteins play important role in cytokine-activated gene expression by transducing signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus. Abnormal prolonged activation results in tumorigenesis, metastasis, cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis. Inhibition of this transcription factor inhibits the previously mentioned effects in cancer cells, whereas normal cells are not affected. Hence, STAT3 might be a viable target for cancer therapy.

Keywords: STAT3; bladder cancer; penile cancer; prostate cancer; renal cell carcinoma; testicular cancer; upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic and simplified depiction of STAT3 pathway activation. Orange diamonds present ligands’ molecules, and black circles marked with “P” present phosphate group. Figure presents the process of receptor dimerization due to their activation by ligands, JAK transphosphorylation, receptors’ phosphorylation, STAT3 phosphorylation, STAT3 dimerization, translocation to the nucleus, and, finally, its binding to DNA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic and simplified depiction of selected pathways and factors regulating STAT3 expression, counting its downstream target proteins, with the consequences of their overexpression in prostate cancer. Dashed lines ending with a dot show inhibition; arrows show stimulation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic and simplified depiction of selected pathways and factors regulating STAT3 expression, counting its downstream target proteins, with the consequences of their overexpression in bladder cancer. Dashed lines ending with a dot show inhibition; arrows show stimulation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic and simplified depiction of selected pathways and factors regulating STAT3 expression, counting its downstream target proteins, with the consequences of their overexpression in renal cell carcinoma. Dashed lines ending with a dot show inhibition; arrows show stimulation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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