Open AccessΔNp63 in squamous cell carcinoma: defining the oncogenic routes affecting epigenetic landscape and tumour microenvironment
Author(s) -
Gatti Veronica,
Fierro Claudia,
AnnicchiaricoPetruzzelli Margherita,
Melino Gerry,
Peschiaroli Angelo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
molecular oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.332
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1878-0261
pISSN - 1574-7891
DOI - 10.1002/1878-0261.12473
Subject(s) - epigenetics , biology , cancer research , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , crosstalk , carcinogenesis , tumor microenvironment , cell , effector , gene , cancer , genetics , immunology , head and neck cancer , tumor cells , physics , optics
Squamous cell carcinoma ( SCC ) is a treatment‐refractory tumour which arises from the epithelium of diverse anatomical sites such as oesophagus, head and neck, lung and skin. Accumulating evidence has revealed a number of genomic, clinical and molecular features commonly observed in SCC of distinct origins. Some of these genetic events culminate in fostering the activity of ΔNp63, a potent oncogene which exerts its pro‐tumourigenic effects by regulating specific transcriptional programmes to sustain malignant cell proliferation and survival. In this review, we will describe the genetic and epigenetic determinants underlying ΔNp63 oncogenic activities in SCC , and discuss some relevant transcriptional effectors of ΔNp63, emphasizing their impact in modulating the crosstalk between tumour cells and tumour microenvironment ( TME ).