NID1, also known as Nidogen-1, is an extracellular matrix and basement membrane protein. It is involved in multiple biological processes, with its functions often mediated through pathways such as the WNT, PI3K-AKT, and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways [1,3,4]. NID1 is crucial in maintaining normal tissue structure and has implications in disease development, making it an important gene for study, and genetic models can provide insights into its functions.

In laryngeal cancer, NID1 is upregulated, especially in relapsed patients, and promotes radiotherapy resistance and the self-renewal of cancer stem cells via activating the WNT pathway. Knockdown of NID1 suppresses these processes [1]. In colorectal cancer, NID1 is a direct target of the EMT-TF SNAIL and promotes cancer progression and metastasis [2]. In salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma, NID1 expression is increased and associated with lung metastasis. HIF-1α can upregulate NID1, which promotes metastasis through the PI3K/AKT pathway and EMT [3]. In ovarian cancer, NID1 is associated with metastasis and chemoresistance by activating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway to promote EMT [4]. In bladder cancer, HSPG2 upregulates NID1, activating the AKT signaling pathway and promoting tumor growth [5].

In conclusion, NID1 plays significant roles in various cancers, including laryngeal, colorectal, salivary gland adenoid cystic, ovarian, and bladder cancers, mainly through its involvement in promoting cancer-related processes such as metastasis, chemoresistance, and cancer stem cell self-renewal via different signaling pathways. These findings from studies, some potentially from in vivo models, contribute to understanding the mechanisms of cancer development and suggest NID1 as a potential therapeutic target in these cancer types.

References:

1. Liu, Wenlin, Wu, Jie, Lai, Yuanpu, Chen, Cuifang, Lu, Zhongming. 2024. NID1 promotes laryngeal cancer stemness via activating WNT pathway. In Biology direct, 19, 115. doi:10.1186/s13062-024-00548-0. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39538332/

2. Rokavec, Matjaz, Jaeckel, Stephanie, Hermeking, Heiko. 2023. Nidogen-1/NID1 Function and Regulation during Progression and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer. In Cancers, 15, . doi:10.3390/cancers15225316. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38001576/

3. Han, Nannan, Li, Xing, Wang, Yupu, Ruan, Min, Zhang, Chenping. 2022. HIF-1α induced NID1 expression promotes pulmonary metastases via the PI3K-AKT pathway in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. In Oral oncology, 131, 105940. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.105940. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35689951/

4. Zhou, Ya, Zhu, Yuanyuan, Fan, Xiaoyan, Bu, Youquan, Zhang, Ying. . NID1, a new regulator of EMT required for metastasis and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells. In Oncotarget, 8, 33110-33121. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.16145. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28416770/

5. Li, Cong, Luo, Pengwei, Guo, Fengzhu, Wang, Shusen, Du, Ting. 2024. Identification of HSPG2 as a bladder pro-tumor protein through NID1/AKT signaling. In Cancer cell international, 24, 345. doi:10.1186/s12935-024-03527-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39438949/