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The functions and regulation of the PTEN tumour suppressor

Min Sup Song1, Leonardo Salmena, Pier Paolo Pandolfi

  • 1Cancer Genetics Program, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Department of Medicine and Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachuchetts 02215, USA. msong@bidmc.harvard.edu

Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology
|April 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is crucial for cell regulation and frequently disrupted in cancer. Understanding PTEN

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a critical tumor suppressor.
  • PTEN regulates the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.
  • PTEN's function is frequently disrupted in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the physiological roles of PTEN.
  • To discuss the mechanisms regulating PTEN in cancer.
  • To highlight novel PTEN functions and therapeutic implications.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PTEN's role in cellular processes.
  • Analysis of PTEN's regulation at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels.
  • Review of PTEN's involvement in cancer development and progression.

Main Results:

  • PTEN suppresses the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway, controlling cell survival, proliferation, metabolism, and architecture.
  • Cancer involves altered mechanisms of PTEN regulation, including gene expression and protein modifications.
  • PTEN exhibits phosphatase-independent activities and nuclear functions.

Conclusions:

  • PTEN is a key regulator of cellular processes and a frequent target in cancer.
  • Altered PTEN regulation contributes to tumorigenesis.
  • Further understanding of PTEN's diverse functions will guide novel cancer therapy development.

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