title: MTA1--a stress response protein: a master regulator of gene expression and cancer cell behavior.
abstract: Gene mutation's role in initiating carcinogenesis has been controversial, but it is consensually accepted that both carcinogenesis and cancer metastasis are gene-regulated processes. MTA1, a metastasis-associated protein, has been extensively researched, especially regarding its role in cancer metastasis. In this review, I try to elucidate MTA1's role in both carcinogenesis and metastasis from a different angle. I propose that MTA1 is a stress response protein that is upregulated in various stress-related situations such as heat shock, hypoxia, and ironic radiation. Cancer cells are mostly living in a stressful environment of hypoxia, lack of nutrition, and immune reaction attacks. To cope with all these stresses, MTA1 expression is upregulated, plays a role of master regulator of gene expression, and helps cancer cells to survive and migrate out of their original dwelling.
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab for Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, China, wangra@fmmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Rui-An
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000235:genetics*; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators
chemical_list: C089320:MTA1 protein, human; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D006655:Histone Deacetylases