Page 74 - Read Online

Chidambaranathan-Reghupaty et al. Hepatoma Research 2018;4:32 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2018.34

Review Open Access

The multifaceted oncogene SND1 in cancer: focus
on hepatocellular carcinoma

1
1
Saranya Chidambaranathan-Reghupaty , Rachel Mendoza , Paul B. Fisher 1,2,3 , Devanand Sarkar 1,2,3
1 Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
2 Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
3 VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

Correspondence to: Dr. Devanand Sarkar, 1220 E Broad St, PO Box 980035, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
E-mail: devanand.sarkar@vcuhealth.org

How to cite this article: Chidambaranathan-Reghupaty S, Mendoza R, Fisher PB, Sarkar D. The multifaceted oncogene SND1 in cancer:
focus on hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:32. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2018.34

Received: 2 Apr 2018 First Decision: 11 Jun 2018 Revised: 19 Jun 2018 Accepted: 19 Jun 2018 Published: 10 Jul 2018
Science Editor: Guang-Wen Cao Copy Editor: Jun-Yao Li Production Editor: Huan-Liang Wu

Abstract
Staphylococcal nuclease and tudor domain containing 1 (SND1) is a protein that regulates a complex array of
functions. It controls gene expression through transcriptional activation, mRNA degradation, mRNA stabilization,
ubiquitination and alternative splicing. More than two decades of research has accumulated evidence of the role of
SND1 as an oncogene in various cancers. It is a promoter of cancer hallmarks like proliferation, invasion, migration,
angiogenesis and metastasis. In addition to these functions, it has a role in lipid metabolism, inflammation and
stress response. The participation of SND1 in such varied functions makes it distinct from most oncogenes that
are relatively more focused in their role. This becomes important in the case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
since in addition to typical cancer drivers, factors like lipid metabolism deregulation and chronic inflammation can
predispose hepatocytes to HCC. The objective of this review is to provide a summary of the current knowledge
available on SND1, specifically in relation to HCC and to shed light on its prospect as a therapeutic target.

Keywords: Staphylococcal nuclease and tudor domain containing 1, hepatocellular carcinoma, inflammation

INTRODUCTION
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary liver malignancy arising from hepatocytes. It is the fifth
common cancer in men and the ninth common cancer in women. It is the second leading cause of cancer-
related deaths worldwide. A high mortality to incidence ratio of 0.95 reflects its poor prognosis and makes
it an important public health burden (Globocan 2012). The main causes of HCC are viral infections like
hepatitis B and hepatitis C, chronic alcoholism, obesity, liver cirrhosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

www.hrjournal.net