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Annexin A4 and cancer

Bin Wei1, Chunmei Guo1, Shuqing Liu2

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.

Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry
|June 7, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Annexin A4 (Anxa4) shows varied roles in cancer, promoting tumor growth in many but suppressing it in prostate cancer. Understanding Anxa4

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Annexin A4 (Anxa4) is a calcium-regulated, phospholipid-binding protein belonging to the annexin superfamily.
  • Anxa4 is implicated in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies for various human malignancies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and discuss the clinical significance of Anxa4 in oncogenesis.
  • To explore the potential mechanisms underlying Anxa4's diverse roles in different cancer types.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating Anxa4 expression and function in cancer.
  • Synthesis of findings on Anxa4's role as an oncogene, tumor suppressor, or diagnostic marker.

Main Results:

  • Anxa4 upregulation correlates with tumor progression and chemoresistance in colorectal, esophageal, endometrial, gastric, lung, mesothelioma, renal, ovarian, cholangiocarcinoma, liver, breast, and laryngeal cancers.
  • Anxa4 may act as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer and has a paradoxical role in pancreatic cancer.
  • Differential Anxa4 expression aids in distinguishing major salivary gland tumors from thyroid cancer and is linked to chemoresistance and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma and glioma.

Conclusions:

  • Anxa4 exhibits complex and context-dependent roles in cancer, acting as an oncogene in some and a tumor suppressor in others.
  • Further research into Anxa4's mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted cancer therapies and diagnostic tools.
  • Anxa4's differential expression patterns offer potential for cancer subtyping and predicting treatment response.
Keywords:
Anxa4BiomarkerCancerDrug resistance

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