Lamins as cancer biomarkers.
Lamins are multifunctional proteins that are often aberrantly expressed or localized in tumours. Here, we endeavour to assess their uses as cancer biomarkers: to diagnose tumours, analyse cancer characteristics and predict patient survival. It appears that the nature of lamin function in cancer is very complex. Lamin expression can be variable between and even within cancer subtypes, which limits their uses as diagnostic biomarkers. Expression of A-type lamins is a marker of differentiated tumour cells and has been shown to be a marker of good or poor patient survival depending on tumour subtype. Further research into the functions of lamins in cancer cells and the mechanisms that determine its patterns of expression may provide more potential uses of lamins as cancer biomarkers.
Foster
Clare R
CR
School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
Przyborski
Stefan A
SA
Wilson
Robert G
RG
Hutchison
Christopher J
CJ
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D034882:Lamins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D034882:Lamins