The Regulation and Function of Hippo/YAP Pathway in Cancer.

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• The Hippo/Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway is crucial for organ size control, tissue repair, and maintaining cellular balance.
• Dysregulation of the Hippo/YAP pathway is a significant factor in the development and advancement of various cancers.
• Despite promising preclinical results, clinical application of Hippo/YAP-targeted therapies faces hurdles due to incomplete understanding of pathway intricacies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of the Hippo/YAP pathway's core components and regulatory mechanisms.
• To explore the pathway's interactions with other signaling cascades and its role in cancer.
• To summarize the involvement of non-coding RNAs and discuss novel therapeutic strategies targeting the Hippo/YAP pathway.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway.
• Analysis of pathway components, regulators, and effectors.
• Examination of pathway crosstalk, cancer relevance, and therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

• The Hippo/YAP pathway is a complex network with context-dependent roles in different cancers.
• Upstream regulators, downstream effectors, and pathway crosstalk significantly influence Hippo/YAP activity.
• MicroRNAs and lncRNAs play critical roles in modulating Hippo/YAP signaling in cancer.

Conclusions:

• Further mechanistic studies are essential to fully elucidate the Hippo/YAP pathway's complexities.
• Identifying and understanding pathway vulnerabilities is crucial for successful clinical translation of targeted therapies.
• Targeting the Hippo/YAP pathway holds significant therapeutic potential for various cancer types.