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The signaling pathways activated by ROR1 in cancer
María Josefina Quezada1, Pablo Lopez-Bergami1
1Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires 1405, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina.
Abstract:
The receptor tyrosine kinase orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is a receptor for WNT5A and related Wnt proteins, that play an important role during embryonic development by regulating cell migration, cell polarity, neural patterning, and organogenesis. ROR1 exerts these functions by transducing signals from the Wnt secreted glycoproteins to the intracellular Wnt/PCP and Wnt/Ca++ pathways. Investigations in adult human cells, particularly cancer cells, have demonstrated that besides these two pathways, the WNT5A/ROR1 axis can activate a number of signaling pathways, including the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, STAT3, and Hippo pathways. Moreover, ROR1 is aberrantly expressed in cancer and was associated with tumor progression and poor survival by promoting cell proliferation, survival, invasion, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and metastasis. Consequently, numerous therapeutic tools to target ROR1 are currently being evaluated in cancer patients. In this review, we will provide a detailed description of the signaling pathways regulated by ROR1 in cancer and their impact in tumor progression.
Insights
Receptor tyrosine kinase orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) activates multiple signaling pathways in cancer cells, promoting tumor progression. Targeting the WNT5A/ROR1 axis offers a promising therapeutic strategy for various cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Receptor tyrosine kinase orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is a WNT5A receptor crucial for embryonic development.
- ROR1 regulates cell migration, polarity, neural patterning, and organogenesis via Wnt/PCP and Wnt/Ca++ pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review signaling pathways regulated by ROR1 in cancer.
- To elucidate the impact of ROR1 on tumor progression.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating ROR1 signaling in cancer.
- Analysis of ROR1's role in activating various intracellular pathways.
Main Results:
- ROR1, beyond Wnt/PCP and Wnt/Ca++ pathways, activates PI3K/AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, STAT3, and Hippo pathways in cancer cells.
- Aberrant ROR1 expression correlates with tumor progression, invasion, metastasis, and poor survival.
Conclusions:
- The WNT5A/ROR1 axis significantly contributes to cancer progression through multiple signaling pathways.
- Targeting ROR1 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
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