title: Lin28: an emerging important oncogene connecting several aspects of cancer.
abstract: RNA-binding protein Lin28 was originally found as a heterochronic gene which played a significant role in the development of Caenorhabditis elegans. The tumor suppressor let-7 is a downstream target of Lin28, which has a wide variety of target genes which are involved in many aspects of cellular activities. By inhibition of let-7 and directly binding the target RNAs, Lin28 plays an important role in different biological and pathological processes including differentiation, metabolism, proliferation, pluripotency, and tumorigenesis. Overexpression of Lin28 has been reported in several kinds of cancers and is correlated with poor outcomes. It has been shown that Lin28 could affect the progression of cancers in several ways, such as promoting proliferation, increasing glucose metabolism, and inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells. Decrease of Lin28 expression or reactivation of let-7 in cancer cells could induce a reverse effect, indicating their therapeutic values in developing novel strategies for cancer treatment. Here, we will overview the regulatory mechanisms and functions of Lin28 in cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Translational Medicine Center, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Translational Medicine Center, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Translational Medicine Center, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Kaiyuan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Translational Medicine Center, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Translational Medicine Center, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital, Wuxi, 214002, Jiangsu, China. jiazengxia@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jiazeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance
chemical_list: C000715187:Lin28A protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Cancer; Cancer stem cell; Let-7; Lin28; Metabolism; Proliferation