Canonical and noncanonical NOTCH signaling in the nongenetic resistance of cancer: distinct and concerted control.
10.1007/s11684-024-1107-1
- Author:
Xianzhe HUANG
1
;
Wenwei CHEN
1
;
Yanyan WANG
1
;
Dmytro SHYTIKOV
1
;
Yanwen WANG
1
;
Wangyi ZHU
1
;
Ruyi CHEN
1
;
Yuwei HE
1
;
Yanjia YANG
1
;
Wei GUO
2
Author Information
1. Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jiaxing, 314400, China.
2. Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jiaxing, 314400, China. weiguo@intl.zju.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
NOTCH inhibitors;
cancer stemlike cells;
canonical NOTCH signaling;
drug-tolerant persisters;
epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition;
noncanonical NOTCH signaling;
nongenetic resistance of cancer
- MeSH:
Neoplasms/metabolism*;
Receptors, Notch/metabolism*;
Disease Resistance/physiology*;
Signal Transduction/physiology*;
Humans;
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/physiology*;
Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods*
- From:
Frontiers of Medicine
2025;19(1):23-52
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Therapeutic resistance in cancer is responsible for numerous cancer deaths in clinical practice. While target mutations are well recognized as the basis of genetic resistance to targeted therapy, nontarget mutation resistance (or nongenetic resistance) remains poorly characterized. Despite its complex and unintegrated mechanisms in the literature, nongenetic resistance is considered from our perspective to be a collective response of innate or acquired resistant subpopulations in heterogeneous tumors to therapy. These subpopulations, e.g., cancer stem-like cells, cancer cells with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and drug-tolerant persisters, are protected by their resistance traits at cellular and molecular levels. This review summarizes recent advances in the research on resistant populations and their resistance traits. NOTCH signaling, as a central regulator of nongenetic resistance, is discussed with a special focus on its canonical maintenance of resistant cancer cells and noncanonical regulation of their resistance traits. This novel view of canonical and noncanonical NOTCH signaling pathways is translated into our proposal of reshaping therapeutic strategies targeting NOTCH signaling in resistant cancer cells. We hope that this review will lead researchers to study the canonical and noncanonical arms of NOTCH signaling as an integrated resistant mechanism, thus promoting the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.
