CYB5A and autophagy-mediated cell death in pancreatic cancer

Autophagy. 2014 Apr;10(4):697-8. doi: 10.4161/auto.27803. Epub 2014 Jan 17.

Abstract

The highly invasive and chemoresistant phenotype of pancreatic cancer highlights the urgency to identify prognostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. Recently, we observed a significant correlation between shorter survival and loss of the cytoband 18q22.3. Here we investigated genes encoded by this cytoband, and demonstrated the prognostic value of CYB5A in resected and metastatic patients. Furthermore, our in vitro and in vivo studies clarified CYB5A inhibitory activity of oncogenic phenotypes through autophagy induction. This raises the possibility that inhibition of CYB5A-deregulated downstream pathways, such as those involving TRAF6, may favor autophagy-mediated cancer cell death in selected subgroups of patients.

Keywords: 18q22.3 cytoband; CYB5A; TRAF6; pancreatic cancer; prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy / physiology*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / physiology
  • Cytochromes b5 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / metabolism

Substances

  • CYB5A protein, human
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • Cytochromes b5