title: The retinal determination gene network: from developmental regulator to cancer therapeutic target.
abstract: Although originally identified for its function in Drosophila melanogaster eye specification, the Retinal Determination Gene Network (RDGN) is essential for the development of multiple organs in mammals. The RDGN regulates proliferation, differentiation and autocrine signaling, and interacts with other key signaling pathways. Aberrant expression of RDGN members such as DACH, EYA and SIX contributes to tumor initiation and progression; indeed, the levels of RDGN members are clinically prognostic factors in various cancer types. Stimulation or suppression of the activities of these crucial components can block cancer cell proliferation, prevent cancer stem cell expansion and even reverse the EMT process, thereby attenuating malignant phenotypes. Thus, cancer therapeutic interventions targeting RDGN members should be pursued in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhang University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.|Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhang University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Deguang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhang University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhang University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Cuntai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.|Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pestell
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhang University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Kongming
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhang University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gaosong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C486747:DACH1 protein, human; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C099236:SIX1 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; C104381:EYA1 protein, human; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
keywords: DACH; EYA; SIX; prognosis; tumor growth