UPF1: a potential biomarker in human cancers

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2021 Apr 30;26(5):76-84. doi: 10.52586/4925.

Abstract

Recently, Up-frameshift protein 1 (UPF1) is reported to be downregulated in various cancers and its low expression is closely correlated with poor prognosis. UPF1 is well known as a master regulator of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which serves as a highly conserved mRNA surveillance process protecting cells from aberrant toxic transcripts. Due to dysfunction of UPF1, NMD fails to proceed, which contributes to tumor initiation and progression. This review shows a brief summary of the aberrant expression, functional roles and molecular mechanisms of UPF1 during tumorigenesis. Increasing evidence has indicated that UPF1 could serve as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and treatment for future clinical applications in cancer.

Keywords: Biomarker; Human cancers; Review; UPF1; lncRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Disease Progression
  • Down-Regulation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay
  • Prognosis
  • RNA Helicases / biosynthesis*
  • RNA Helicases / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Trans-Activators / biosynthesis*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Trans-Activators
  • RNA Helicases
  • UPF1 protein, human