Targeting the Hippo/YAP/TAZ Signalling Pathway: Novel Opportunities for Therapeutic Interventions into Skin Cancers
August 2022
in “
Experimental dermatology
”
Hippo pathway YAP TAZ skin cancers melanoma non-melanoma tumor suppressor hair follicle growth YAP/TAZ depletion epidermal tissue repair YAP/TAZ overexpression dasatinib CA3 statins pazopanip PI3K-AKT inhibitors Hippo signaling YAP protein TAZ protein skin cancer hair growth YAP/TAZ knockout epidermal repair YAP/TAZ inhibitors
TLDR Blocking YAP/TAZ could be a new way to treat skin cancer.
The document discusses the role of the Hippo/YAP/TAZ signalling pathway in skin cancers, including melanoma and non-melanoma types. The proteins YAP and TAZ are key drivers of tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis in these cancers, making them potential therapeutic targets. The Hippo pathway, a major tumor suppressor pathway, is also crucial in skin homeostasis and hair follicle growth. Depletion of Yap and Taz in adult mice led to progressive hair loss, while their knockout significantly impaired epidermal tissue repair. YAP/TAZ are overexpressed in many types of skin cancers, and their targeting could offer potential opportunities for cancer therapy. Several compounds that could potentially inhibit YAP/TAZ activity are mentioned, including dasatinib, CA3, statins, pazopanip, and PI3K-AKT inhibitors. The document concludes that more human cell/tissue-focused studies are needed to answer open questions and complement studies done in mice and other animal model systems.
