Dual faces of SH2-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase Shp2/PTPN11 in tumorigenesis

Shuangwei Li1, Diane DiFang Hsu, Hongyang Wang

  • 1Department of Pathology, and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0864, USA.

Frontiers of Medicine
|August 8, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The PTPN11 gene, encoding tyrosine phosphatase Shp2, has dual roles. Initially seen as a tumor suppressor, it

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The PTPN11 gene encodes tyrosine phosphatase Shp2, crucial for cellular signaling.
  • Tyrosine phosphatases were initially predicted to be tumor suppressors.
  • PTPN11 was identified as a proto-oncogene due to its association with leukemogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the contrasting roles of PTPN11/Shp2 in cancer.
  • To explore its function as a tumor promoter versus a tumor suppressor.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of experimental data.
  • Analysis of PTPN11/Shp2's role in different cell types.

Main Results:

  • PTPN11/Shp2 acts as a proto-oncogene in leukemogenesis.
  • Recent findings indicate PTPN11/Shp2 functions as a tumor suppressor in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • The role of PTPN11/Shp2 in cancer is context-dependent.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate its dual function in various cancers.

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