Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Fluorescence-based Monitoring of PAD4 Activity via a Pro-fluorescence Substrate Analog
08:37

Fluorescence-based Monitoring of PAD4 Activity via a Pro-fluorescence Substrate Analog

Published on: November 5, 2014

10.0K

Claudin-4: A New Molecular Target for Epithelial Cancer Therapy

Rina Fujiwara-Tani1, Shiori Mori1, Ruiko Ogata1

  • 1Department of Molecular Pathology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Claudin-4 (CLDN4) is overexpressed in epithelial cancers, promoting tumor growth and drug resistance. Targeting CLDN4 with molecular therapies shows promise for treating various malignancies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Claudin-4 (CLDN4) is a crucial protein in epithelial tight junctions (TJs).
  • CLDN4 overexpression is linked to epithelial cancer progression and influences the tumor microenvironment.
  • CLDN4 expression changes are associated with epigenetic modifications, inflammation, and growth factor signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the multifaceted roles of Claudin-4 (CLDN4) in epithelial malignancies.
  • To explore the potential of CLDN4 as a molecular therapeutic target in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on CLDN4 expression in various cancers.
  • Analysis of CLDN4's involvement in tumor microenvironment modulation and drug resistance.
  • Examination of CLDN4's non-tight junction functions in promoting cancer stemness and proliferation.
  • Overview of emerging molecular therapies targeting CLDN4.

Main Results:

  • CLDN4 overexpression correlates with cancer progression and acts as a barrier to anticancer drugs.
  • Reduced CLDN4 expression is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • Non-tight junction CLDN4 activates signaling pathways (integrin beta 1, YAP) promoting proliferation, EMT, and stemness.
  • Experimental therapies targeting CLDN4, including antibodies and toxins, show efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Claudin-4 (CLDN4) plays a significant role in promoting malignant phenotypes across numerous epithelial cancers.
  • CLDN4 is a promising molecular target for novel cancer therapies.
Keywords:
cancerclaudin-4molecular targetnon-tight junction claudintight junction

More Related Videos

Detection of Mitochondria Membrane Potential to Study CLIC4 Knockdown-induced HN4 Cell Apoptosis In Vitro13:20

Detection of Mitochondria Membrane Potential to Study CLIC4 Knockdown-induced HN4 Cell Apoptosis In Vitro

Published on: July 17, 2018

10.4K
Three-Dimensional Culture of Murine Colonic Crypts to Study Intestinal Stem Cell Function Ex Vivo07:46

Three-Dimensional Culture of Murine Colonic Crypts to Study Intestinal Stem Cell Function Ex Vivo

Published on: October 11, 2022

3.4K

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.7K
Tight Junctions01:29

Tight Junctions

Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...
5.4K
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
4.8K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.6K
Adherens Junctions01:24

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types –  adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as  epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as  heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
4.9K
Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
3.1K