[PAX gene function during kidney tumorigenesis: a comparative approach].
The rising incidence of cancers affecting the kidney emphasizes the need to identify the molecular pathways involved in the initiation and progression of kidney tumors in order to counter this phenomenon. For many years, genes belonging to the PAX family have been the focus of intensive studies in the fields of organogenesis and tumorigenesis. PAX2 and PAX8 encode transcription factors essential for embryonic kidney development. Transcriptionnal repression of these factors is, however, required to allow terminal differentiation of renal epithelia. In human, maintenance and reactivation of PAX2/8 expression are frequently observed in cases of Wilm's tumor and renal cell carcinoma. The precise role of PAX2/8 in kidney cancer is still elusive but results from several studies suggest the exertion of common functions during organogenesis and tumorigenesis of the kidney. Moreover, many members of the PAX family are involved in similar cellular processes such as differentiation/proliferation, motility and apoptosis. Thus, by comparing the functions exerted by PAX factors in several types of cancers should be useful to better define the specific contribution of PAX2/8 to kidney tumorigenesis.
Béland
Mélanie
M
Centre de recherche sur le cancer McGill, Université McGill, 3655 promenade Sir William Osler, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
Bouchard
Maxime
M
D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051757:PAX5 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000072636:PAX8 Transcription Factor; D051764:PAX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000235:genetics*
D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; C489409:PAX3 protein, human; D051757:PAX5 Transcription Factor; C497281:PAX5 protein, human; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; C497321:PAX7 protein, human; D000072636:PAX8 Transcription Factor; C083325:PAX8 protein, human; D051764:PAX9 Transcription Factor; C497323:PAX9 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins