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CCN Family Proteins in Cancer: Insight Into Their Structures and Coordination Role in Tumor Microenvironment

Qingan Jia1, Binghui Xu1, Yaoyao Zhang1

  • 1Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.

Frontiers in Genetics
|April 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Targeting the Cellular Communication Network (CCN) protein family, which influences the tumor microenvironment (TME), may offer a novel cancer treatment strategy. Understanding CCN protein roles and expression is key to developing effective therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) interact through critical signaling pathways, promoting cancer progression.
  • Targeting single molecules in this crosstalk has limited success; multi-targeting is complex and may cause side effects.
  • The Cellular Communication Network (CCN) protein family, comprising six scaffolding proteins, plays a role in governing the TME.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the structures and roles of CCN proteins in various cancers.
  • To analyze CCN mRNA expression and its varied relationship with cancer prognosis.
  • To explore the potential of targeting CCN proteins as an anti-cancer strategy by rebalancing the TME.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on CCN protein family structures and functions.
  • Analysis of CCN mRNA expression data across different cancer types.
  • Examination of the relationship between CCN protein expression and patient prognosis.

Main Results:

  • CCN proteins share similar structures and mutually regulate their functions within the TME.
  • CCN protein expression and its prognostic significance vary considerably across different cancer types.
  • Diverse TME and CCN truncated isoforms contribute to the discrepant functions of CCN proteins in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • The diverse roles of CCN proteins in cancer are influenced by the specific TME and the presence of various CCN isoforms.
  • Targeting CCN proteins to modulate the TME presents a promising therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into CCN protein regulation and isoform-specific functions is warranted for developing targeted therapies.
Keywords:
CCN proteinsisoformspan-cancertargeted therapytumor microenvironment

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