Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Identification of Transcription Factor Regulators using Medium-Throughput Screening of Arrayed Libraries and a Dual-Luciferase-Based Reporter
11:32

Identification of Transcription Factor Regulators using Medium-Throughput Screening of Arrayed Libraries and a Dual-Luciferase-Based Reporter

Published on: March 27, 2020

Transcription factors: their potential as targets for an individualized therapeutic approach to cancer

C Mees1, J Nemunaitis, N Senzer

  • 1Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers, Dallas, TX 75201, USA.

Cancer Gene Therapy
|October 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

This review explores how transcription factors (TFs) drive cancer by controlling oncogene expression. It organizes TF pro-cancer activities based on the six established hallmarks of cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cancer progression is regulated by oncogene expression and transcription.
  • Transcription involves complex interactions between RNA polymerase II, transcription factors (TFs), and regulatory DNA elements.
  • Specific TFs are increasingly recognized for their roles in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key oncogene-related transcription factors (TFs).
  • To categorize the pro-cancer activities of these TFs.
  • To align TF functions with the six established hallmarks of cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of oncogene-related transcription factors.
  • Analysis of TF roles in gene transcription.
  • Categorization of TF functions based on the hallmarks of cancer.

Main Results:

  • Identified unique TFs associated with cancer.
  • Summarized the pro-cancer activities of key oncogene-related TFs.
  • Organized TF functions according to the six hallmarks of cancer: self-sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity to growth inhibition, evasion of apoptosis, limitless replication, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • Transcription factors are critical regulators of oncogene activity and cancer progression.
  • Understanding TF roles within the framework of cancer hallmarks provides a comprehensive view of malignant transformation.
  • Targeting specific TFs offers potential therapeutic strategies for various cancers.

More Related Videos

Mapping the Structure-Function Relationships of Disordered Oncogenic Transcription Factors Using Transcriptomic Analysis09:58

Mapping the Structure-Function Relationships of Disordered Oncogenic Transcription Factors Using Transcriptomic Analysis

Published on: June 27, 2020

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells09:37

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

Published on: August 25, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...