Uncovering the role of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase receptor B signaling in head and neck malignancies |
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| Authors: | Juliana Kern de Moraes Vivian Petersen Wagner Felipe Paiva Fonseca Pablo Agustin Vargas Caroline Brunetto de Farias Rafael Roesler Manoela Domingues Martins |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil;2. Department of Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil;3. Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil;4. Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Porto Alegre Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil;5. Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil;6. Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil;7. Experimental Pathology Unit, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors that was first known as responsible for sustain the growth, function, and plasticity of neural cells. BDNF exerts its effects by binding to the tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB). The BDNF/TrkB axis has been reported to be overexpressed in several neurogenic and non‐neurogenic tumors. Its higher expression was associated with a poor prognosis to patients affected by different human malignancies, tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis; epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and resistance to chemotherapy. BDNF/TrkB represent promising targets to the development of novel anticancer therapies. Some clinical trials are currently evaluating the efficacy of Trk protein‐target drugs in different types of solid tumors. To date, few groups have evaluated the DNF/TrkB pathway in head and neck malignancies. The aims of this study were to review the literature concerning the role of BDNF/TrkB activation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and malignant salivary gland tumors and to discuss future perspectives of BDNF/TrkB‐target therapy. |
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| Keywords: | adenoid cystic carcinoma head and neck cancer oral squamous cell carcinoma salivary gland cancer signaling pathway |
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