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Aiyappa-Maudsley R, McLoughlin LFV, Hughes TA. Semaphorins and Their Roles in Breast Cancer: Implications for Therapy Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13093. [PMID: 37685898 PMCID: PMC10487980 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. The clinical management of breast cancer is further complicated by the heterogeneous nature of the disease, which results in varying prognoses and treatment responses in patients. The semaphorins are a family of proteins with varied roles in development and homoeostasis. They are also expressed in a wide range of human cancers and are implicated as regulators of tumour growth, angiogenesis, metastasis and immune evasion. More recently, semaphorins have been implicated in drug resistance across a range of malignancies. In breast cancer, semaphorins are associated with resistance to endocrine therapy as well as breast cancer chemotherapeutic agents such as taxanes and anthracyclines. This review will focus on the semaphorins involved in breast cancer progression and their association with drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas A. Hughes
- School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK; (R.A.-M.); (L.F.V.M.)
- School of Science, Technology and Health, York St John University, York YO31 7EX, UK
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Bica C, Tirpe A, Nutu A, Ciocan C, Chira S, Gurzau ES, Braicu C, Berindan-Neagoe I. Emerging roles and mechanisms of semaphorins activity in cancer. Life Sci 2023; 318:121499. [PMID: 36775114 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Semaphorins are regulatory molecules that are linked to the modulation of several cancer processes, such as angiogenesis, cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis, tumor growth, as well as cancer cell survival. Semaphorin (SEMA) activity depends on the cancer histotypes and their particularities. In broad terms, the effects of SEMAs result from their interaction with specific receptors/co-receptors - Plexins, Neuropilins and Integrins - and the subsequent effects upon the downstream effectors (e.g. PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK). The present article serves as an integrative review work, discussing the broad implications of semaphorins in cancer, focusing on cell proliferation/survival, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, stemness, and chemo-resistance/response whilst highlighting their heterogeneity as a family. Herein, we emphasized that semaphorins are largely implicated in cancer progression, interacting with the tumor microenvironment components. Whilst some SEMAs (e.g. SEMA3A, SEMA3B) function widely as tumor suppressors, others (e.g. SEMA3C) act as pro-tumor semaphorins. The differences observed in terms of the biological structure of SEMAs and the particularities of each cancer histotypes require that each semaphorin be viewed as a unique entity, and its roles must be researched accordingly. A more in-depth and comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms that promote and sustain the malignant behavior of cancer cells is of utmost importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Bica
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Alexandru Tirpe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania; Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Andreea Nutu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Cristina Ciocan
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Sergiu Chira
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Eugen S Gurzau
- Cluj School of Public Health, College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 7 Pandurilor Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, 400240 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Cornelia Braicu
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400337, Romania.
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Jiang J, Zhang F, Wan Y, Fang K, Yan ZD, Ren XL, Zhang R. Semaphorins as Potential Immune Therapeutic Targets for Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:793805. [PMID: 35155237 PMCID: PMC8830438 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.793805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Semaphorins are a large class of secreted or membrane-bound molecules. It has been reported that semaphorins play important roles in regulating several hallmarks of cancer, including angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune evasion. Semaphorins and their receptors are widely expressed on tumor cells and immune cells. However, the biological role of semaphorins in tumor immune microenvironment is intricate. The dysregulation of semaphorins influences the recruitment and infiltration of immune cells, leading to abnormal anti-tumor effect. Although the underlying mechanisms of semaphorins on regulating tumor-infiltrating immune cell activation and functions are not fully understood, semaphorins can notably be promising immunotherapy targets for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jiang
- Department of Health Service, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Immunology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi Wan
- Department of Health Service, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ke Fang
- Department of Health Service, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ze-Dong Yan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin-Ling Ren
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Shenzhen General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Immunology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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