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Updated: Nov 16, 2025

Using Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells to Teach Core Biology Concepts: A Simple Lab Module
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UTRN inhibits melanoma growth by suppressing p38 and JNK/c-Jun signaling pathways

Sitong Zhou1, Wen Ouyang2, Xi Zhang3

  • 1Department of Dermatology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, 81 Lingnan Avenue North, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China.

Cancer Cell International
|February 26, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Reduced Utrophin (UTRN) expression is linked to poorer melanoma prognosis. Utrophin suppresses melanoma growth by inhibiting p38 and JNK1/c-Jun pathways, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Utrophin (UTRN) is implicated in cancer progression, but its role in melanoma remains unclear.
  • This study investigates the function and molecular mechanisms of UTRN in melanoma growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the role of Utrophin (UTRN) in melanoma development and progression.
  • To elucidate the molecular pathways through which UTRN influences melanoma growth.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of UTRN expression in non-cancerous and melanoma tissues using GEO and UCSC Xena.
  • Validation of UTRN expression in clinical samples via immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western Blot.
  • Functional assays (CCK, EdU) and pathway analysis (GSEA, Western Blot) in A375 melanoma cells to assess UTRN's impact on proliferation and signaling pathways (p38, JNK/c-Jun).

Main Results:

  • Decreased UTRN expression was observed in melanoma tissues and correlated with advanced clinical characteristics and poorer prognosis in 447 TCGA samples.
  • Upregulated UTRN significantly inhibited melanoma cell proliferation.
  • GSEA and Western Blot analysis revealed that UTRN suppresses melanoma growth via the p38 and JNK1/c-Jun signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced Utrophin (UTRN) expression is a predictor of poor prognosis in melanoma patients.
  • UTRN acts as a tumor suppressor in melanoma by inhibiting the p38 and JNK1/c-Jun pathways.
  • UTRN holds potential as a novel prognostic biomarker for melanoma.
Keywords:
GSEAMelanomaSurvival analysisTCGAUTRN

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