Effects of super-enhancers in cancer metastasis: mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Autor: Shenglan Liu, Wei Dai, Bei Jin, Feng Jiang, Hao Huang, Wen Hou, Jinxia Lan, Yanli Jin, Weijie Peng, Jingxuan Pan
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Molecular Cancer, Vol 23, Iss 1, Pp 1-24 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1476-4598
DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02033-8
Popis: Abstract Metastasis remains the principal cause of cancer-related lethality despite advancements in cancer treatment. Dysfunctional epigenetic alterations are crucial in the metastatic cascade. Among these, super-enhancers (SEs), emerging as new epigenetic regulators, consist of large clusters of regulatory elements that drive the high-level expression of genes essential for the oncogenic process, upon which cancer cells develop a profound dependency. These SE-driven oncogenes play an important role in regulating various facets of metastasis, including the promotion of tumor proliferation in primary and distal metastatic organs, facilitating cellular migration and invasion into the vasculature, triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition, enhancing cancer stem cell-like properties, circumventing immune detection, and adapting to the heterogeneity of metastatic niches. This heavy reliance on SE-mediated transcription delineates a vulnerable target for therapeutic intervention in cancer cells. In this article, we review current insights into the characteristics, identification methodologies, formation, and activation mechanisms of SEs. We also elaborate the oncogenic roles and regulatory functions of SEs in the context of cancer metastasis. Ultimately, we discuss the potential of SEs as novel therapeutic targets and their implications in clinical oncology, offering insights into future directions for innovative cancer treatment strategies.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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