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Regulation of the tumor suppressor PTEN in triple-negative breast cancer

Chengsen Chai1, H Helena Wu2, Yasser Abuetabh2

  • 1370 Heritage Medical Research Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2S2, Canada; Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.

Cancer Letters
|December 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis. This review explores how the tumor suppressor PTEN, crucial for cell regulation, is altered and functions in TNBC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks ER, PR, and HER-2 expression, leading to poorer patient outcomes.
  • Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a key tumor suppressor regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.
  • PTEN inactivation correlates with aggressive TNBC features like larger tumors and lymph node metastasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the function of PTEN in cancer biology.
  • To summarize PTEN's genomic alterations in breast cancer.
  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of PTEN in TNBC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on PTEN's role and regulation in TNBC.
  • Summary of genomic alterations affecting PTEN in breast cancer.
  • Discussion of transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulation of PTEN.

Main Results:

  • PTEN is frequently inactivated in breast cancer, particularly in TNBC.
  • PTEN's tumor-suppressive functions are critical in controlling cell proliferation and migration.
  • PTEN is subject to complex regulation including genomic alterations, transcriptional control, and post-translational modifications.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding PTEN's multifaceted regulation in TNBC is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
  • PTEN represents a significant therapeutic target for improving outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer.
  • Further research into PTEN's regulatory network may unlock novel treatment strategies for TNBC.
Keywords:
PI3K-AKT pathwayPTENTriple-negative breast cancer

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