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The potential role of YAP in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Eunbie Shin1, Joon Kim2

  • 1Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea.

Experimental & Molecular Medicine
|August 30, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The Hippo-YAP pathway regulates organ size and cell fate. YAP dysregulation drives cancer aggressiveness, with YAP amplifications and FAT1 alterations common in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Cancer Genomics

Background:

  • The Hippo-YAP pathway is a conserved signaling network controlling organ size and cell fate.
  • YAP activity is influenced by diverse cellular cues, including mechanical stress and cell density.
  • YAP promotes cancer cell survival and aggressive phenotypes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the causes and functional consequences of YAP dysregulation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  • To explore the role of YAP in promoting aggressive cancer behavior.
  • To examine the interplay between YAP and other oncogenic drivers in HNSCC.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature and genomic studies.
  • Analysis of comprehensive genomic data for HNSCC.
  • Discussion of signaling pathways and genetic alterations.

Main Results:

  • YAP amplifications are frequently observed in human carcinomas, notably HNSCC.
  • FAT1, an upstream regulator of Hippo signaling, is commonly altered in HNSCC.
  • YAP dysregulation contributes to the aggressive nature of HNSCC.

Conclusions:

  • YAP plays a critical role in HNSCC development and progression.
  • Understanding YAP's interactions with other oncogenic drivers is crucial for HNSCC treatment.
  • Targeting the Hippo-YAP pathway presents a potential therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.

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