2. Academic Validation
  3. Role of NEK2 in tumorigenesis and tumor progression

Role of NEK2 in tumorigenesis and tumor progression

  • Trends Mol Med. 2025 Jan;31(1):79-93. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.07.013.
Jiliang Xia 1,  Hongyan Zhao 2,  Jacob L Edmondson 3,  Brian Koss 3,  Fenghuang Zhan 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Hunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changshengxi Road 28, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 2 Hunan Engineering Research Center for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changshengxi Road 28, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
  • 3 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
  • 4 Myeloma Center, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 39181803 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.07.013
Abstract

Never in Mitosis A (NIMA)-related kinase 2 (NEK2) is a serine/threonine kinase found in the nucleus and cytoplasm throughout the cell cycle. NEK2 is overexpressed in many cancers and is a biomarker of poor prognosis. Factors contributing to NEK2 elevation in Cancer cells include oncogenic transcription factors, decreased ubiquitination, DNA methylation, and the circular RNA (circRNA)/long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-miRNA axis. NEK2 overexpression produces chromosomal instability and aneuploidy, thereby enhancing Cancer progression and suppressing antitumor immunity, which highlights the prominence of NEK2 in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting NEK2 have demonstrated promising therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo across various Cancer types. This review outlines the regulatory mechanisms of NEK2 expression, emphasizes its functional roles in Cancer initiation and progression, and highlights the Anticancer properties of NEK2 inhibitors.

Keywords

NEK2; therapeutic potential; tumor progression; tumorigenesis.

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