STK11 (serine-threonine kinase 11), also known as LKB1 (liver kinase B1) is a highly conserved master kinase that regulates cellular metabolism and polarity through a complex signaling network involving AMPK and 12 other AMPK-related kinases. Germline mutations in have been causatively linked to Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS), an autosomal dominant hereditary disease with high cancer susceptibility. The identification of inactivating somatic mutations in in different types of cancer further supports its tumor suppressive role. Deleterious mutations in are frequently observed in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. However, its inconsistent effects on tumorigenesis and cancer progression suggest that its functional impact is genetic context-dependent, requiring cooperation with other oncogenic lesions. In this review, we summarize the pleiotropic functions of LKB1 and how its altered activity in cancer cells is linked to oncogenic proliferation and growth, metastasis, metabolic reprogramming, genomic instability, and immune modulation. We also review the current mechanistic understandings of this master kinase as well as therapeutic implications with particular focus on the effects of LKB1 deficiency in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Lastly, we discuss whether LKB1 deficiency can be exploited as an Achilles heel in ovarian cancer.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11560430PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2024.1449543DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

ovarian cancer
12
cancer
8
master kinase
8
lkb1 deficiency
8
role stk11/lkb1
4
stk11/lkb1 cancer
4
cancer biology
4
biology implications
4
ovarian
4
implications ovarian
4

Similar Publications

Ultrasmall Au-GRHa Nanosystem for FL/CT Dual-Mode Imaging-Guided Targeting Photothermal Therapy of Ovarian Cancer.

Anal Chem

January 2025

State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.

As the most common and lethal cancer of the female gonads, ovarian cancer (OC) has a grave impact on people's health. OC is asymptomatic, insidious in onset, difficult to diagnose and treat, fast-growing, and easy to metastasize and has poor prognosis and high mortality. How to detect OC as early as possible and treat it without side effects has become a challenging medical problem.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Large-scale population cohort studies that collect genomic information are tasked with returning an assessment of genetic risk for hereditary cancers to participants. While several studies have applied to return identified genetic risks to participants, comprehensive surveys of participants' understanding, feelings, and behaviors toward cancer risk remain to be conducted. Here, we report our experience and surveys of returning genetic risks to 100 carriers of pathogenic variants for hereditary cancers identified through whole genome sequencing of 50 000 individuals from the Tohoku Medical Megabank project, a population cohort study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes show strong proapoptotic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in A2780 and endothelial cells.

Chem Biol Interact

January 2025

Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstrasse 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address:

A series of eight gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes [Au(IMes)(HLn)] based on 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) and 7-azaindole derivatives (HLn), where n = 1-8 for HL1 = 5-flouro-7-azaindole, HL2 = 5-bromo-7-azaindole, HL3 = 3-chloro-7-azaindole, HL4 = 3-iodo-7-azaindole, HL5 = 5-bromo-3-chloro-7-azaindole, HL6 = 5-bromo-3-iodo-7-azaindole, HL7 = 4-chloro-2-methyl-7-azaindole and HL8 = 7-azaindole, was prepared, characterised and studied for their in vitro anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. The complexes showed significant cytotoxicity on human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, IC ≈ 8-19 μM and A2780R, IC ≈ 8-19 μM) and lowered toxicity in normal HaCat and MRC-5 cells. Cellular effects of the selected complexes 1 and 7 were evaluated in A2780 cells using flow cytometry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Survival outcomes comparing minimally invasive versus open cytoreductive surgery in recurrent adult-type granulosa cell tumors.

Am J Obstet Gynecol

January 2025

Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research. Electronic address:

Background: Adult-type granulosa cell tumors are a rare form of ovarian cancer, 30% of which will recur. Cytoreductive surgery is often performed at the time of a first recurrence, but little is known about the impact of open versus minimally invasive surgical approaches on survival outcomes.

Objective: To examine associations between surgical approach, clinical variables, and survival outcomes among patients with adult-type granulosa cell tumors who underwent cytoreductive surgery at the time of first recurrence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Maternal exposure to nicotine causes oxidative stress and inflammatory changes in the ovaries of adult rats' offspring.

Reprod Toxicol

January 2025

Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Morphology and Genetic, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Nicotine is one of the most toxic substances found in cigarettes, but also found in chewing tobacco gum, patches and vaping products (electronic cigarettes). In addition to being a highly addictive chemical, it is capable of reducing fertility in men and women. In the ovaries, it can induce morphological changes and impair the formation of follicles, being a possible cause of changes in the reproductive cycle and anticipation of menopause in women whose mothers smoked during pregnancy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!