ID proteins regulate diverse aspects of cancer progression and provide novel therapeutic opportunities.
The inhibitor of differentiation (ID) proteins are helix-loop-helix transcriptional repressors with established roles in stem cell self-renewal, lineage commitment, and niche interactions. While deregulated expression of ID proteins in cancer was identified more than a decade ago, emerging evidence has revealed a central role for ID proteins in neoplastic progression of multiple tumor types that often mirrors their function in physiological stem and progenitor cells. ID proteins are required for the maintenance of cancer stem cells, self-renewal, and proliferation in a range of malignancies. Furthermore, ID proteins promote metastatic dissemination through their role in remodeling the tumor microenvironment and by promoting tumor-associated endothelial progenitor cell proliferation and mobilization. Here, we discuss the latest findings in this area and the clinical opportunities that they provide.
Cancer Research Division & Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia.
Radhika
R
Nair
Cancer Research Division & Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia.
Wee Siang
WS
Teo
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA. Electronic address: vim2010@med.cornell.edu.
Vivek
V
Mittal
Cancer Research Division & Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: a.swarbrick@garvan.org.au.
Alexander
A
Swarbrick
D006801:Humans; D051796:Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D051796:Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins