Oncofetal reprogramming in tumor development and progression: novel insights into cancer therapy
Jiangjun Cao,
Zhe Zhang,
Li Zhou,
Maochao Luo,
Lei Li,
Bowen Li,
Edouard C. Nice,
Weifeng He,
Shaojiang Zheng,
Canhua Huang
Affiliations
Jiangjun Cao
West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and Department of Biotherapy Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan University Chengdu China
Zhe Zhang
Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease the First Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University Zhejiang China
Li Zhou
Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education) Department of Infectious Diseases the Second Affiliated Hospital Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Chongqing Medical University Chongqing China
Maochao Luo
West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and Department of Biotherapy Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan University Chengdu China
Lei Li
Department of anorectal surgery Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
Bowen Li
West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and Department of Biotherapy Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan University Chengdu China
Edouard C. Nice
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monash University Clayton VIC Australia
Weifeng He
State Key Laboratory of Trauma Burn and Combined Injury Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University) Chongqing China
Shaojiang Zheng
Hainan Cancer Medical Center of The First Affiliated Hospital, the Hainan Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hainan Engineering Research Center for Biological Sample Resources of Major Diseases Hainan Medical University Haikou China
Canhua Huang
West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, and Department of Biotherapy Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China HospitalSichuan University Chengdu China
Abstract Emerging evidence indicates that cancer cells can mimic characteristics of embryonic development, promoting their development and progression. Cancer cells share features with embryonic development, characterized by robust proliferation and differentiation regulated by signaling pathways such as Wnt, Notch, hedgehog, and Hippo signaling. In certain phase, these cells also mimic embryonic diapause and fertilized egg implantation to evade treatments or immune elimination and promote metastasis. Additionally, the upregulation of ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters, including multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1), multidrug resistance‐associated protein 1 (MRP1), and breast cancer‐resistant protein (BCRP), in drug‐resistant cancer cells, analogous to their role in placental development, may facilitate chemotherapy efflux, further resulting in treatment resistance. In this review, we concentrate on the underlying mechanisms that contribute to tumor development and progression from the perspective of embryonic development, encompassing the dysregulation of developmental signaling pathways, the emergence of dormant cancer cells, immune microenvironment remodeling, and the hyperactivation of ABC transporters. Furthermore, we synthesize and emphasize the connections between cancer hallmarks and embryonic development, offering novel insights for the development of innovative cancer treatment strategies.
