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The role of nuclear pore complex in tumor microenvironment and metastasis

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Abstract

One of the main reasons for cancer mortality is caused by the highly invasive behavior of cancer cells, which often due to aggressive metastasis. Metastasis is mediated by various growth factors and cytokines, operating through numerous signaling pathways. Remarkably, all these metastatic signaling pathways must enter the nucleus through a single gatekeeper, the nuclear pore complex (NPC). NPCs are the only gateway between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. NPCs are among the largest proteinaceous assemblies in the cell and are composed of multiple copies of around 30 different proteins called nucleoporins. Here, we review what is currently known about the NPC, and its role in the mechanisms of tumor progression. We will also explore potential strategies to target metastatic pathways by manipulating the karyopherins (importins/exportins) of nucleocytoplasmic traffic through NPCs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors regret the many publications we were unable to cite due to lack of space. This work was supported by the Program for Improvement of the Research Environment for Young Researchers from the Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology (SCF), Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas and Young Scientists from MEXT Japan, and by grants from the Asahi Glass Foundation, the Mochida Memorial Foundation, the Suzuken Memorial Foundation, the Kowa Life Science Foundation, the Takeda Science Foundation, the Astellas Foundation, and the Novartis Foundation (Japan) to RW.

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  1. Frontier Science Organization, 1/F Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-1192, Japan

    Tatsuyoshi Funasaka & Richard W. Wong

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  1. Tatsuyoshi Funasaka
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  2. Richard W. Wong
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Correspondence to Richard W. Wong.

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Funasaka, T., Wong, R.W. The role of nuclear pore complex in tumor microenvironment and metastasis. Cancer Metastasis Rev 30, 239–251 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10555-011-9287-y

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