Role of Sp1 in liver cancer

Abstract

Liver cancer is one of the most serious public health concerns in the world with unhealthy lifestyle and infection with oncogenic viruses contributing to tumorigenesis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which originates from the hepatocytes is the most ubiquitous form of liver cancer and is the sixth most prevalent cancer globally. The specificity protein 1 (Sp1) transcription factor occupies an important functional niche in varied cellular processes including cell division, differentiation, cell adhesion, immune response, apoptosis, chromatin remodeling, and DNA damage response. Considering the central position of Sp1 in the life cycle of cells, it is conceivable that Sp1 could be intimately associated with the process of transformation. Some of the pharmacological agents exert their antineoplastic effects through the inhibition of Sp1 response, thereby underlining the importance of Sp1 in the process of carcinogenesis. Over the years, evidence has built up implicating the role of Sp1 in various features of tumorigenesis including proliferation of cancerous cells, cell cycle regulation, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. This review evaluates the contributions of Sp1 to various aspects of HCC.