Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

In vitro Enrichment of Ovarian Cancer Tumor-initiating Cells
11:37

In vitro Enrichment of Ovarian Cancer Tumor-initiating Cells

Published on: February 18, 2015

14.3K

Stem cell transcription factor NANOG in cancers--is eternal youth a curse?

Oscar G W Wong1, Annie N Y Cheung1

  • 1a Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong Special Administrative Region , People's Republic of China.

Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets
|December 5, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

NANOG is a key factor in cancer stem cell self-renewal and cancer progression. Inhibiting NANOG offers a potential therapeutic strategy, but challenges remain in targeting this transcription factor effectively for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Stem Cell Research

Background:

  • NANOG is crucial for stem cell self-renewal and pluripotency, including in cancer stem cells.
  • Overexpressed NANOG drives carcinogenesis, promoting hallmarks of cancer like uncontrolled growth, chemoresistance, metastasis, and immune evasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular properties and oncogenic roles of NANOG.
  • To present NANOG inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy against cancer stem cells.

Main Methods:

  • Discussion of NANOG's molecular properties and oncogenic functions.
  • Exploration of strategies to inhibit NANOG, including small interfering RNA, transcription factor decoys, genome editing, and small-molecule inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • NANOG plays a pivotal role in maintaining cancer stem cells and regulating oncogenic pathways.
  • Targeting NANOG presents a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • NANOG is a significant target for cancer therapy due to its role in cancer stem cell maintenance.
  • Pharmacological targeting of transcription factors like NANOG is challenging, necessitating further research for clinical application.
Keywords:
CancerNANOGcancer stem cellcancer therapy

More Related Videos

Establishment of Cancer Stem Cell Cultures from Human Conventional Osteosarcoma09:25

Establishment of Cancer Stem Cell Cultures from Human Conventional Osteosarcoma

Published on: October 14, 2016

19.8K
An Enzyme- and Serum-free Neural Stem Cell Culture Model for EMT Investigation Suited for Drug Discovery07:43

An Enzyme- and Serum-free Neural Stem Cell Culture Model for EMT Investigation Suited for Drug Discovery

Published on: August 23, 2016

10.5K

Related Concept Videos

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming01:29

Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming

Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012...
2.8K
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
6.2K
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming01:24

Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for...
2.3K
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
4.9K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
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...
11.9K
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

6.1K