How the AHR Became Important in Cancer: The Role of Chronically Active AHR in Cancer Aggression

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2021 Jan 5

PMID 33396563

Citations 44

Authors

Zhongyan Wang

Megan Snyder

Jessica E Kenison

Kangkang Yang

Brian Lara

Emily Lydell

Kawtar Bennani

Olga Novikov

Anthony Federico

Stefano Monti

David H Sherr

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

For decades, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) was studied for its role in environmental chemical toxicity i.e., as a quirk of nature and a mediator of unintended consequences of human pollution. During that period, it was not certain that the AHR had a "normal" physiological function. However, the ongoing accumulation of data from an ever-expanding variety of studies on cancer, cancer immunity, autoimmunity, organ development, and other areas bears witness to a staggering array of AHR-controlled normal and pathological activities. The objective of this review is to discuss how the AHR has gone from a likely contributor to genotoxic environmental carcinogen-induced cancer to a master regulator of malignant cell progression and cancer aggression. Particular focus is placed on the association between AHR activity and poor cancer outcomes, feedback loops that control chronic AHR activity in cancer, and the role of chronically active AHR in driving cancer cell invasion, migration, cancer stem cell characteristics, and survival.

Citing Articles

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Maternal consumption of yoghurt activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor increases group 3 innate lymphoid cells in murine offspring.

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