Enabling Tumor Growth and Progression: Recent Progress in Unraveling the Functions of ABL Kinases in Solid Tumor Cells

Abstract

Purpose of Review The goal of this review is to summarize our current knowledge regarding how ABL family kinases are activated in solid tumors and impact on solid tumor development/progression, with a focus on recent advances in the field. Recent Findings Although ABL kinases are known drivers of human leukemia, emerging data also implicates the kinases in a large number of solid tumor types where they promote diverse processes such as proliferation, survival, cytoskeletal reorganization, cellular polarity, EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal-transition), metabolic reprogramming, migration, invasion and metastasis via unique signaling pathways. ABL1 and ABL2 appear to have overlapping but also unique roles in driving these processes. In some tumor types, the kinases may act to integrate pro- and anti-proliferative and -invasive signals, and also may serve as a switch during EMT/MET (mesenchymal-epithelial) transitions. Conclusions Most data indicate that targeting ABL kinases may be effective for reducing tumor growth and preventing metastasis; however, ABL kinases also may have a tumor suppressive role in some tumor types and in some cellular contexts. Understanding the functions of ABL kinases in solid tumors is critical for developing successful clinical trials aimed at targeting ABL kinases for the treatment of solid tumors.

Integrated Analysis to Study the Relationship between Tumor-Associated Selenoproteins: Focus on Prostate Cancer

“…High levels of MSRB1 were previously found in hepatocellular carcinoma, and correlated with the MAPK pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [76], and in low metastatic MCF7 human breast cancer cells [77]. ABL1 has been previously reported to act as a switch between cellular, invasive and proliferative, states and can either promote invasion and prostate cancer aggressiveness, or inhibit its progression, depending on the signal [78]. Hence, as in the case of the first cluster, it will be interesting to plan further studies to analyze the correlation between MSRB1 and ABL1.…”

Plant-Derived Antioxidants Protect the Nervous System From Aging by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress

“…Finally, lycopene is widely present in tomatoes and has high neurotrophic value (Shi and Le Maguer, 2000). In a model of Aβ-induced neuronal injury, lycopene did not activate NF-κB, p65, or TLR4 expression (Tripathi et al, 2018), but restored mitochondrial morphological membrane potential and ATP levels (Qu et al, 2016) and inhibited Bax and mitochondria. The associated decrease in the level of Bcl-2 (Feng et al, 2016) created protective effects against inflammation and oxidative stress in nerve cells.…”

Antiepithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Herbal Active Substance in Tumor Cells via Different Signaling

“…Conversely, circulating tumor cells spread into several organs through the bloodstream to form colonies through clonal outgrowth mediated by MET at these metastatic sites. Therefore, EMT and MET contribute to the initiation and completion of the invasionmetastasis cascade, respectively [19,20].…”