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

Zhongyan Wang, Megan Snyder, Jessica E Kenison, Kangkang Yang, Brian Lara, Emily Lydell, Kawtar Bennani, Olga Novikov, Anthony Federico, Stefano Monti, David H Sherr

International journal of molecular sciences 2020 Dec 31

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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.

Citation

Zhongyan Wang, Megan Snyder, Jessica E Kenison, Kangkang Yang, Brian Lara, Emily Lydell, Kawtar Bennani, Olga Novikov, Anthony Federico, Stefano Monti, David H Sherr. How the AHR Became Important in Cancer: The Role of Chronically Active AHR in Cancer Aggression. International journal of molecular sciences. 2020 Dec 31;22(1)