WWOX, a new potential tumor suppressor gene.
BACKGROUND
WWOX (WW domain-containing oxidoreductase) gene, located on chromosome 16q 23.3-24.1 in the region recognized as the common fragile site FRA16D is considered to be a tumor suppressor gene involved in various cancers: breast, ovarian, prostate, esophageal, lung, pancreatic, gastric and hepatic. The aim of this study was to describe (i) putative protein interactions of WWOX (ii) the molecular mechanisms of tumor suppressor activity (iii) present an overview of WWOX in relation to nervous system and breast, prostate and ovarian cancers.


RESULTS
WWOX expression is up-regulated in endocrine organs indicating its importance in these tissues. In many cancers WWOX expression is down-regulated and low WWOX expression is related to poor prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
All the evidence suggest that WWOX can be considered as a new tumor suppressor gene and target for gene therapy due to the association of high WWOX expression with improved disease free survival.
Hezova
Renata
R
Department of Pathology & Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Hnevotinska 3, Olomouc 775 15, Czech Republic. renatahezova@seznam.cz
Ehrmann
Jiri
J
Kolar
Zdenek
Z
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase
D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase; C486071:WWOX protein, human