Ghosh Priya, Dey Ankita, Nandi Suvendu, Majumder Ranabir, Das Subhayan, Mandal Mahitosh
Cancer Biology Lab, School of Medical Science & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
Department of Allied Health Sciences, Brainware University, Kolkata 700125, Barasat, West Bengal, India.
Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2025 Feb 13;44(1):32. doi: 10.1007/s10555-025-10248-4.
Breast cancer, with its diverse subtypes like ER-positive, HER-2-positive, and triple-negative, presents complex challenges demanding personalized treatment approaches. The intricate interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors underscores its status as a primary contributor to cancer-related fatalities in women globally. Understanding the molecular drivers specific to each subtype is crucial for developing effective therapies. In this landscape, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), also referred to as cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2), emerges as a significant player. CTGF regulates critical biological activities like cell growth, invasion, and migration, impacting breast cancer development and progression. It modulates breast tumor microenvironment by promoting angiogenesis, activating cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and inducing inflammation. The activity of CTGF depends on several factors including oxygen levels, hormone signals, and growth factors and differs according to the type of breast cancer. CTGF can regulate breast cancer cells by activating various signaling pathways and modulating the transcription of other genes that are involved in tumor development and metastasis including S100A4, glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The matricellular protein can be considered a potential therapeutic target, as it can promote tumor growth and confer drug resistance in breast cancer. Numerous tactics, including neutralizing antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, natural compounds, recombinant proteins, and short hairpin RNAs have been suggested to block its function. This review highlights the structure of CTGF, regulation of its expression, and current knowledge of its oncogenic role in breast cancer, as well as focusing on potential therapeutic strategies for targeting CTGF in breast cancer.
乳腺癌有多种亚型,如雌激素受体阳性(ER阳性)、人表皮生长因子受体2阳性(HER-2阳性)和三阴性,带来了复杂的挑战,需要个性化的治疗方法。遗传、环境和生活方式因素之间复杂的相互作用凸显了其作为全球女性癌症相关死亡主要原因的地位。了解每种亚型特有的分子驱动因素对于开发有效的治疗方法至关重要。在这种情况下,结缔组织生长因子(CTGF),也称为细胞通讯网络因子2(CCN2),成为一个重要的因素。CTGF调节细胞生长、侵袭和迁移等关键生物学活动,影响乳腺癌的发展和进展。它通过促进血管生成、激活癌症相关成纤维细胞(CAF)和诱导炎症来调节乳腺肿瘤微环境。CTGF的活性取决于包括氧水平、激素信号和生长因子在内的几个因素,并且根据乳腺癌的类型而有所不同。CTGF可以通过激活各种信号通路和调节参与肿瘤发展和转移的其他基因(包括S100A4、葡萄糖转运蛋白3(GLUT3)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF))的转录来调节乳腺癌细胞。这种基质细胞蛋白可被视为一个潜在的治疗靶点,因为它可以促进肿瘤生长并赋予乳腺癌耐药性。已经提出了许多策略,包括中和抗体、反义寡核苷酸、天然化合物、重组蛋白和短发夹RNA来阻断其功能。本综述重点介绍了CTGF的结构、其表达的调节、目前对其在乳腺癌中致癌作用的认识,以及针对乳腺癌中CTGF的潜在治疗策略。