title: The nucleolus: an emerging target for cancer therapy.
abstract: For over 100 years, pathologists have utilised an increase in size and number of nucleoli, the subnuclear site of ribosome synthesis, as a marker of aggressive tumours. Despite this, the contribution of the nucleolus and ribosomal RNA synthesis to cancer has been largely overlooked. This concept has recently changed with the demonstration that the nucleolus indirectly controls numerous other cellular functions, in particular, the cellular activity of the critical tumour suppressor protein, p53. Moreover, selective inhibition of ribosomal gene transcription in the nucleolus has been shown to be an effective therapeutic strategy to promote cancer-specific activation of p53. This article reviews the largely untapped potential of the nucleolus and ribosomal gene transcription as exciting new targets for cancer therapy.
authors: Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, 3002, Victoria, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Hein
authors: Katherine M
authors: KM
authors: Hannan
authors: Amee J
authors: AJ
authors: George
authors: Elaine
authors: E
authors: Sanij
authors: Ross D
authors: RD
authors: Hannan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: RNA polymerase I inhibitor; cancer therapy; nucleolar stress; nucleolus; p53; ribosomal gene transcription