PATZ1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A New Biomarker That Negatively Correlates with PD-L1 Expression and Suppresses the Malignant Phenotype.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, is still an unmet medical problem due to the lack of both effective therapies against advanced stages and markers to allow a diagnosis of the disease at early stages before its progression. Immunotherapy targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint is promising for many cancers, including NSCLC, but its success depends on the tumor expression of PD-L1. PATZ1 is an emerging cancer-related transcriptional regulator and diagnostic/prognostic biomarker in different malignant tumors, but its role in lung cancer is still obscure.

Targeting the MITF/APAF-1 axis as salvage therapy for MAPK inhibitors in resistant melanoma.

Melanoma is a deadly form of cancer characterized by remarkable therapy resistance. Analyzing the transcriptome of MAPK inhibitor sensitive- and resistant-melanoma, we discovered that APAF-1 is negatively regulated by MITF in resistant tumors. This study identifies the MITF/APAF-1 axis as a molecular driver of MAPK inhibitor resistance.

The Transcription Regulator Patz1 Is Essential for Neural Stem Cell Maintenance and Proliferation.

Proper regulation of neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are generated from neural stem and progenitor cells (NS/PCs), is essential for embryonic brain development and adult brain function. The transcription regulator is ubiquitously expressed in early mouse embryos and has a key role in embryonic stem cell maintenance. At later stages, the detection of expression mainly in the developing brain suggests a specific involvement of in neurogenesis.

Characterization of transgenic mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Latest studies have shown that deregulated pseudogene transcripts contribute to cancer working as competing endogenous RNAs. Our research group has recently demonstrated that the overexpression of two pseudogenes, and , has a critical role in cancer progression. These pseudogenes work sustaining the expression of HMGA1 and other cancer-related genes.