Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells
09:37

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells

Published on: August 25, 2021

PTEN: from pathology to biology

Maria Luisa Sulis1, Ramon Parsons

  • 1Institute for Cancer Genetics, and Division of Pediatric Oncology, Children's Hospital of New York, Herbert Irving Cancer Center, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, USA.

Trends in Cell Biology
|August 30, 2003
PubMed

Insights

The PTEN gene, a crucial tumor suppressor, is vital for regulating cellular functions. Its dysregulation contributes to cancer development by impacting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase network.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) tumor suppressor gene is frequently mutated in various cancers.
  • PTEN acts as the primary phosphatase for phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate, critically regulating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) network.
  • Loss of PTEN function disrupts cellular homeostasis and promotes oncogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of PTEN in normal cellular functions.
  • To explore the involvement of PTEN in disease development, particularly cancer.
  • To highlight the underestimated importance of PTEN in malignancies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PTEN's functions in cellular processes.
  • Analysis of studies linking PTEN mutations to cancer development.
  • Synthesis of current research on PTEN's regulatory roles.

Main Results:

  • PTEN is essential for controlling cellular homeostasis via the PI 3-kinase pathway.
  • Loss of PTEN leads to uncontrolled cellular phenotypes that favor tumor growth.
  • PTEN also regulates fundamental cellular activities including migration, cell size, and chemotaxis.

Conclusions:

  • PTEN is a key regulator of cellular functions and a critical tumor suppressor.
  • Understanding PTEN's diverse roles is crucial for comprehending cancer development and progression.
  • Further research into PTEN's mechanisms can reveal new therapeutic strategies for cancer.

More Related Videos

Surgical Removal of a Complex Sensory Organ in Highly Regenerative Ctenophores05:04

Surgical Removal of a Complex Sensory Organ in Highly Regenerative Ctenophores

Published on: August 8, 2025

Isolation of Primary Human Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells and Their Use in Creating a Microphysiological Model of the Renal Proximal Tubule07:06

Isolation of Primary Human Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells and Their Use in Creating a Microphysiological Model of the Renal Proximal Tubule

Published on: May 9, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Pedigree Analysis01:35

Pedigree Analysis

Overview
Pleiotropy01:33

Pleiotropy

Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways01:25

cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways

Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an essential second messenger that activates protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates various biological processes. A single epinephrine molecule binds to GPCR and activates several heterotrimeric G proteins, each stimulating multiple adenylyl cyclase, amplifying the signal, and synthesizing large numbers of cAMP molecules. Small changes in cAMP concentration affect PKA activity. The binding of four cAMP molecules induces a conformational change in PKA,...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway01:11

IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway

Membrane lipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) are precursors for several membrane-bound and soluble second messengers. Specific kinases phosphorylate PI and produce phosphorylated inositol phospholipids. One such inositol phospholipids are the  phosphatidylinositol-4,5 bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2], present in the inner half of the lipid bilayer. Upon ligand binding, GPCR stimulates Gq proteins to turn on phospholipase Cꞵ. Activated phospholipase Cꞵ cleaves PI(4,5)P2 and produces two-second...
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy01:20

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...