Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Sherif Suleiman
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
Rosa Drago-Ferrante
BioDNA Laboratories, Malta Life Sciences Park, SGN 3000 San Gwann, Malta
Yashwanth Subbannayya
School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Sarah Suleiman
Whipps Cross Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Leytonstone, London E11 1NR, UK
Mariela Vasileva-Slaveva
Department of Breast Surgery, “Dr. Shterev” Hospital, 1330 Sofia, Bulgaria
Angel Yordanov
Department of Gynecological Oncology, Medical University Pleven, 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria
Francesca Pentimalli
Department of Medicine and Surgery, LUM University “Giuseppe DeGennaro”, 70010 Casamassima, Italy
Antonio Giordano
Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
Jean Calleja-Agius
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD 2080 Msida, Malta
The F-Box and WD Repeat Domain Containing 7 (FBXW7) protein has been shown to regulate cellular growth and act as a tumor suppressor. This protein, also known as FBW7, hCDC4, SEL10 or hAGO, is encoded by the gene FBXW7. It is a crucial component of the Skp1-Cullin1-F-box (SCF) complex, which is a ubiquitin ligase. This complex aids in the degradation of many oncoproteins, such as cyclin E, c-JUN, c-MYC, NOTCH, and MCL1, via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). The FBXW7 gene is commonly mutated or deleted in numerous types of cancer, including gynecologic cancers (GCs). Such FBXW7 mutations are linked to a poor prognosis due to increased treatment resistance. Hence, detection of the FBXW7 mutation may possibly be an appropriate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker that plays a central role in determining suitable individualized management. Recent studies also suggest that, under specific circumstances, FBXW7 may act as an oncogene. There is mounting evidence indicating that the aberrant expression of FBXW7 is involved in the development of GCs. The aim of this review is to give an update on the role of FBXW7 as a potential biomarker and also as a therapeutic target for novel treatments, particularly in the management of GCs.
