Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Utilizing Functional Genomics Screening to Identify Potentially Novel Drug Targets in Cancer Cell Spheroid Cultures
Published on: December 26, 2016
Survivin as a global target of intrinsic tumor suppression networks
Minakshi Guha1, Dario C Altieri
1Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
Abstract:
Despite the constant exposure to genomic insults that may lead to malignancy, cancer is surprisingly a relatively rare occurrence, and this is largely credited to an elaborate network of endogenous tumor suppression. Many effectors of tumor suppression have been identified, and their functions when activated in damaged cells have in large part been elucidated. What is less clear is whether there are common target gene(s) of tumor suppression, whose expression must be ablated in order to block transformation and preserve cellular homeostasis. Fresh experimental evidence suggests that silencing of the mitotic regulator and cell death inhibitor, survivin, is a universal requirement for successful tumor suppression in humans.
Insights
Cancer is rare due to tumor suppression, but blocking transformation requires silencing survivin. This mitotic regulator and cell death inhibitor
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Genetics
Background:
- Cancer arises despite constant genomic insults, primarily due to endogenous tumor suppression mechanisms.
- Numerous tumor suppressor effectors and their functions in damaged cells are understood.
- The common target genes essential for blocking transformation remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential common target genes of tumor suppression.
- To determine if specific gene silencing is universally required to prevent cellular transformation and maintain homeostasis.
- To explore the role of survivin in tumor suppression.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigation of gene expression patterns.
- Analysis of cellular responses to genomic insults.
- Functional studies on the mitotic regulator and cell death inhibitor, survivin.
Main Results:
- Experimental evidence indicates that survivin plays a critical role.
- Silencing of survivin appears to be a necessary step in tumor suppression.
- This silencing is crucial for blocking transformation and preserving cellular homeostasis.
Conclusions:
- The suppression of survivin is a universal requirement for effective tumor suppression in humans.
- Targeting survivin may represent a common therapeutic strategy for preventing cancer development.
More Related Videos
09:37Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells
Published on: August 25, 2021
08:59Looking for Driver Pathways of Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapy: Drug Resistant Subclone Generation and Sensitivity Restoring by Gene Knock-down
Published on: December 11, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
01:12Loss of Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions
When the tumor suppressor genes develop mutations or are lost, cells start growing out of control, leading to cancer. However, a single functional copy of the tumor suppressor gene is enough for the cells to maintain their normal functions and cell...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:31The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
02:26Protein Networks
These interactions can be represented through maps depicting protein-protein interaction networks, represented as nodes and edges. Nodes are circles that are representative of a protein,...