title: WWOX tumor suppressor gene.
abstract: Loss of heterozygosity and chromosomal rearrangement of the WWOX gene, which is located at 16q23.3-24.1, have been detected in ovarian, breast, hepatocellular, and prostate carcinomas and in other neoplasias. This gene, which spans the common chromosomal fragile site 16D, contains 9 exons and encodes a 46 kDa WWOX protein that contains 414 amino acids. The evidence from cancer cell lines and primary tumor tissues suggests that WWOX is a tumor suppressor gene and that its inactivation contributes to cancer development. The results from studies of WWOX gene knockout cancer cells and a WWOX knockout mouse model partly confirm this hypothesis. The nature of the various proteins that the WWOX protein can interact with, such as c-Jun, TNF, p53, p73, AP-2 gamma, and E2F-1, suggests that WWOX plays a central role in tumor suppression through transcriptional repression and apoptosis, with its apoptotic function the more prominent of the two. However, there is not universal agreement that WWOX is a tumor suppressor gene. Further analysis is needed to reveal the true nature of WWOX.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor, Tianjin Cancer Hospital and Institute, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jilong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000528:radiation effects; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase
chemical_list: D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase; C486071:WWOX protein, human