Tumour Suppressor Genes: The Guardians of Cell Integrity

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2068

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Via Francesco Sforza, 35, 20122 Milan, Italy
Interests: cancer-associated genes and pathways; tumour suppressor genes; cancer research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer remains a major threat to individuals and a major challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Tumour suppressor genes play a pivotal role in regulating cell proliferation and preventing tumour formation. For this reason, studying their mechanism of action and defining in detail the intracellular pathways they regulate become of massive importance for implementing patients’ therapy.

This Biomolecules Special Issue explores the intricate functions and critical roles of tumour suppressor proteins in the context of cancer biology. This Special Issue will explore the diverse mechanisms through which tumour suppressor proteins regulate fundamental cellular processes. Specifically, we plan to examine the complex interplay between tumour suppressor proteins and oncogenic pathways, highlighting their significance in cancer development, progression, and therapeutic targeting.

By shedding light on the multifaceted functions of tumour suppressor proteins, this Special Issue aims to deepen our understanding of cancer pathogenesis and pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Nicola Manfrini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cell cycle
  • cell growth
  • cell integrity
  • cell proliferation
  • DNA damage
  • genome integrity
  • protein homeostasis
  • migration
  • invasion
  • metastasis
  • apoptosis
  • autophagy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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22 pages, 3018 KiB  
Article
Uncovering a Novel Role of ROR1 in the Epigenetic Regulation of Tumor Suppressor Gene CREB3L1 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
by Victoria L. Reed, Eric Lalu, Leena Yoon, Norman Fultang and Bela Peethambaran
Biomolecules 2025, 15(5), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050734 - 16 May 2025
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Abstract
A characteristic of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor genes, leading to TNBC heterogeneity and treatment resistance in patients. TNBC exhibits high methylation rates, leading to the silencing of numerous tumor suppressor genes. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) have [...] Read more.
A characteristic of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the epigenetic regulation of tumor suppressor genes, leading to TNBC heterogeneity and treatment resistance in patients. TNBC exhibits high methylation rates, leading to the silencing of numerous tumor suppressor genes. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) have shown limited clinical efficacy in TNBC treatment. This study aims to uncover a target that could be used to reverse the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes in TNBC. The Western blot analysis demonstrated that ROR1 knockdown, an oncofetal gene, reduced DNMT3A and DNMT3B protein expression in the TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and HCC1806, as well as a non-malignant breast cell line, MCF10A. The reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) analysis identified differential methylation of CREB3L1 when ROR1 is knocked down in TNBC cell lines. CREB3L1 is a transcription factor that plays tumor-suppressive roles in TNBC and is commonly epigenetically silenced in patients. This study shows that ROR1 requires pSTAT3 activation to upregulate DNMT3A and DNMT3B expression to induce CREB3L1 epigenetic silencing in TNBC. ROR1 knockdown resulted in the re-expression of CREB3L1 in TNBC cells. The data provide evidence that ROR1 inhibition, in combination with DNMTis, could enhance patient outcomes as a therapeutic approach for TNBC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tumour Suppressor Genes: The Guardians of Cell Integrity)
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7 pages, 539 KiB  
Perspective
Modulation of Autophagy by Oncosuppressor FAM46C and Its Implications for Cancer Therapy: An Intriguing Perspective
by Nicola Manfrini
Biomolecules 2025, 15(2), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15020196 - 30 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 961
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major challenges in medicine, necessitating continuous advancements in therapeutic approaches. Autophagy, an intracellular pathway essential for cellular homeostasis and stress response, has emerged as a promising target for cancer treatment. In this context, FAM46C, a novel pan-cancer tumour [...] Read more.
Cancer is one of the major challenges in medicine, necessitating continuous advancements in therapeutic approaches. Autophagy, an intracellular pathway essential for cellular homeostasis and stress response, has emerged as a promising target for cancer treatment. In this context, FAM46C, a novel pan-cancer tumour suppressor, has been shown to induce apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells through indirect inhibition of autophagy. Here, we discuss how FAM46C-induced autophagic dampening could offer new opportunities for global cancer therapy. Specifically, we explore two scenarios in which the expression of a functional FAM46C may either sensitize cancer cells to autophagic inhibition or antagonize their sensitivity. We further comment on how this synergism/antagonism could be used to refine strategies for cancer treatment, positioning FAM46C as a pivotal factor in future cancer therapy development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tumour Suppressor Genes: The Guardians of Cell Integrity)
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