Open Access

Multifaceted regulation and functions of YAP/TAZ in tumors (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Huirong Liu
    • Suya Du
    • Tiantian Lei
    • Hailian Wang
    • Xia He
    • Rongsheng Tong
    • Yi Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 8, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6423
  • Pages: 16-28
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The Hippo pathway, initially identified through screenings for mutant tumor suppressors in Drosophila, is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that controls organ size by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. Abnormal regulation of the Hippo pathway may lead to cancer in mammals. As the major downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, unphosphorylated Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its homolog transcriptional co-activator TAZ (also called WWTR1) (hereafter called YAP/TAZ) are translocated into the nucleus. In the nucleus, in order to induce target gene expression, YAP/TAZ bind to the TEA domain (TEAD) proteins, and this binding subsequently promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis. In contrast, as key regulators of tumorigenesis and development, YAP/TAZ are phosphorylated and regulated by multiple molecules and pathways including Lats1/2 of Hippo, Wnt and G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, with a regulatory role in cell physiology, tumor cell development and pathological abnormalities simultaneously. In particular, the crucial role of YAP/TAZ in tumors ensures their potential as targets in designing anticancer drugs. To date, mounting research has elucidated the suppression of YAP/TAZ via effective inhibitors, which significantly highlights their application in cancer treatment. In the present review, we focus on the functions of YAP/TAZ in cancer, discuss their potential as new therapeutic target for tumor treatment, and provide valuable suggestions for further study in this field.
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July-2018
Volume 40 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Liu H, Du S, Lei T, Wang H, He X, Tong R and Wang Y: Multifaceted regulation and functions of YAP/TAZ in tumors (Review). Oncol Rep 40: 16-28, 2018
APA
Liu, H., Du, S., Lei, T., Wang, H., He, X., Tong, R., & Wang, Y. (2018). Multifaceted regulation and functions of YAP/TAZ in tumors (Review). Oncology Reports, 40, 16-28. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6423
MLA
Liu, H., Du, S., Lei, T., Wang, H., He, X., Tong, R., Wang, Y."Multifaceted regulation and functions of YAP/TAZ in tumors (Review)". Oncology Reports 40.1 (2018): 16-28.
Chicago
Liu, H., Du, S., Lei, T., Wang, H., He, X., Tong, R., Wang, Y."Multifaceted regulation and functions of YAP/TAZ in tumors (Review)". Oncology Reports 40, no. 1 (2018): 16-28. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2018.6423