Notch signaling in solid tumors

Ute Koch1, Freddy Radtke

  • 1Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), Lausanne, Switzerland.

Insights

Notch signaling is crucial in cancer development, particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This chapter reviews Notch signaling in solid tumors and evaluates targeted therapies, highlighting their pros and cons.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Growing evidence links Notch signaling to oncogenesis in various cancers.
  • Activating Notch mutations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia underscore its critical role.
  • This has spurred research into Notch signaling's involvement in solid tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge of Notch signaling in solid cancers.
  • To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of novel Notch-targeted therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of existing literature on Notch signaling in solid tumors.
  • Evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting Notch.

Main Results:

  • Notch signaling plays significant oncogenic roles in diverse solid tumors.
  • Targeting Notch signaling presents potential therapeutic benefits.
  • Challenges and limitations exist for current and emerging therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Notch signaling is a validated therapeutic target in oncology.
  • Further research is needed to optimize Notch-targeted treatments for solid cancers.
  • Understanding Notch pathway intricacies is key for effective cancer therapy.

Related Concept Videos

Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
Notch Signaling Pathway03:14

Notch Signaling Pathway

The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:12

Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Notch signaling was first discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, where it is involved in cell lineage differentiation. Notch signaling regulates the maintenance and differentiation of intestinal stem cells or ISCs by controlling the expression of atonal homolog 1 or Atoh1. Atoh1 directs cells to differentiate into secretory cells.
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...