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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

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DEAD-box RNA helicases in the multistep process of tumor metastasis

Shan Li1, Tianyu Feng2, Hang Yuan1

  • 1Cancer Center and Lab of Experimental Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.

Molecular Biology Reports
|September 22, 2024
PubMed

Insights

DEAD-box (DDX) proteins, crucial for RNA metabolism, are increasingly linked to cancer. This review explores their role in promoting cancer metastasis, a complex multistep process.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • RNA helicases are essential proteins involved in various RNA metabolic processes.
  • DEAD-box (DDX) proteins, a major subfamily, are implicated in transcription, translation, and RNA degradation.
  • Emerging evidence links DDX proteins to cancer initiation and progression, with elevated expression in many malignancies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the complex, multistep process of cancer metastasis.
  • To present the suggested functions and mechanisms of DDX family proteins in the invasion-metastasis cascade.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on DDX proteins and cancer metastasis.
  • Analysis of proposed functions and mechanisms of DDX proteins in each step of the metastasis cascade.

Main Results:

  • DDX proteins are increasingly recognized for their role in promoting cancer metastasis.
  • Specific DDX proteins exhibit functions that facilitate local invasion, survival in circulation, and colonization at distant sites.

Conclusions:

  • DDX proteins are significant contributors to the metastatic potential of cancer cells.
  • Understanding DDX protein functions in metastasis may reveal novel therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
DDX proteinsInvasion-metastasis cascadeRNA helicasesTumor progression

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