Cancer Management and Research (Nov 2022)
Cofilin Acts as a Booster for Progression of Malignant Tumors Represented by Glioma
Abstract
Shihong Lv,1,* Zhiye Chen,2,3,* Hailong Mi,3 Xingjiang Yu3 1Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang, 157011, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Histology and Embryology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xingjiang Yu, Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Baofeng Street, Qiaokou District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430000, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86-13146677984, Email [email protected]: Cofilin, as a depolymerization factor of actin filaments, has been widely studied. Evidences show that cofilin has a role in actin structural reorganization and dynamic regulation. In recent years, several studies have demonstrated a regulatory role for cofilin in the migration and invasion mediated by cell dynamics and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)/EMT-like process, apoptosis, radiotherapy resistance, immune escape, and transcriptional dysregulation of malignant tumor cells, particularly glioma cells. On this basis, it is practical to evaluate cofilin as a biomarker for predicting tumor metastasis and prognosis. Targeting cofilin regulating kinases, Lin11, Isl-1 and Mec-3 kinases (LIM kinases/LIMKs) and their major upstream molecules inhibits tumor cell migration and invasion and targeting cofilin-mediated mitochondrial pathway induces apoptosis of tumor cells represent effective options for the development of novel anti-malignant tumor drug, especially anti-glioma drugs. This review explores the structure, general biological function, and regulation of cofilin, with an emphasis on the critical functions and prospects for clinical therapeutic applications of cofilin in malignant tumors represented by glioma.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: cofilin, glioma, malignant tumor, migration, invasion, apoptosis
