Hippo Pathway in Cancer: Aberrant Regulation and Therapeutic Opportunities

Trends Cancer. 2019 May;5(5):297-307. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.04.001. Epub 2019 May 16.

Abstract

The Hippo pathway remains a central focus in both basic and translational research and is a key modulator of developmental biology. Dysregulation of the pathway is associated with a plethora of human cancers and there are multiple efforts to target key components of the pathway for disease intervention. In this review, we briefly highlight the latest research advances around the core components of the Hippo pathway in cancer. More specifically, we discuss several genetic aberrations of these factors as mechanisms for the development of cancers, including genetic amplification, deletion, and gene fusions. Additionally, we highlight the role of the Hippo pathway in cancer therapy resistance and tumor immunogenicity. Last, we summarize the ongoing efforts to target the pathway in cancers.

Keywords: Hippo pathway; TAZ; TEAD; YAP; cancer; drug development.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Drug Discovery
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Hippo Signaling Pathway
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / etiology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases