Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Monitoring Hippo Signaling Pathway Activity Using a Luciferase-based Large Tumor Suppressor LATS Biosensor
07:16

Monitoring Hippo Signaling Pathway Activity Using a Luciferase-based Large Tumor Suppressor LATS Biosensor

Published on: September 13, 2018

19.8K

Expected and unexpected effects after systemic inhibition of Hippo transcriptional output in cancer

Isabel Baroja1,2, Nikolaos C Kyriakidis3, Georg Halder4

  • 1Cancer Research Group, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador.

Nature Communications
|March 28, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Hyperactivation of YAP/TAZ (Yes-associated protein/T-and-மானது-like protein) is common in cancer. Inhibiting these Hippo pathway effectors shows promise but requires careful consideration due to their dual roles in tumor suppression and promotion.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Aberrant activation of YAP/TAZ, key downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, is frequently observed in various human cancers.
  • YAP/TAZ proteins are crucial for cancer cell survival, leading to the development of targeted pharmacological inhibitors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted role of the Hippo pathway within distinct tumor cell populations.
  • To discuss the implications of inhibiting Hippo pathway output on tumor progression and growth.
  • To examine the current landscape and advancements in YAP/TAZ inhibitor development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of the dual role of YAP/TAZ in cancer (tumor-promoting vs. tumor-suppressive).
  • Evaluation of current pharmacological YAP/TAZ inhibitors and their mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • YAP/TAZ activity is essential for cancer cell survival in preclinical models.
  • Systemic inhibition of YAP/TAZ can lead to unpredictable patient outcomes due to context-dependent functions.
  • YAP/TAZ exhibit both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive roles depending on the cellular context.

Conclusions:

  • The Hippo pathway and its effectors YAP/TAZ play complex roles in cancer, necessitating a nuanced approach to therapeutic inhibition.
  • Understanding the cell-type-specific functions of YAP/TAZ is critical for developing effective and safe cancer therapies.
  • Further research into YAP/TAZ inhibitors is needed to optimize their clinical application and mitigate potential adverse effects.

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