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Interfering with Nuclear Transport as a Means of Interrupting Transcription Factor Activity in Cancer

Aderonke F Ajayi-Smith1, Pauline J van der Watt1, Virna D Leaner1

  • 1Division of Medical Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, SAMRC/UCT Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Critical Reviews in Eukaryotic Gene Expression
|May 19, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Transcription factors regulate cell functions, and their mislocalization due to nuclear transport issues drives cancer. Targeting nuclear transporters offers a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cell biology
  • Cancer research

Background:

  • Transcription factors are crucial regulators of cellular processes like proliferation and apoptosis.
  • Aberrant transcription factor activity is a hallmark of many diseases, particularly cancer.
  • Subcellular localization dictates transcription factor activity, highlighting the role of nuclear transport.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of altered nuclear transport on transcription factor localization and activity in cancer.
  • To discuss the potential of targeting nuclear transporters as a cancer therapy strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on transcription factors, nuclear transport, and cancer.
  • Analysis of mechanisms linking nuclear transport dysregulation to cancer development.
  • Evaluation of therapeutic strategies targeting nuclear transporters.

Main Results:

  • Dysregulated nuclear transport machinery is frequently observed in various cancer types.
  • Altered nuclear transport affects transcription factor localization, leading to aberrant cellular functions.
  • Nuclear transport pathways are implicated in the progression and development of cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Altered nuclear transport significantly contributes to cancer pathogenesis by affecting transcription factor activity.
  • Targeting nuclear transport mechanisms presents a viable and promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.

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