SYT7, also known as synaptotagmin 7, encodes a 46-kDa transmembrane protein located on human chromosome 11q12.2. It is an important regulatory molecule of exocytosis in various cells. Studies have shown it is involved in multiple signaling pathways, such as the mTOR, PI3K/AKT, and STAT3 pathways, and plays a crucial role in cancer-related biological processes [1,5,7]. Genetic models, especially gene knockout models, are valuable for studying SYT7's functions.

In various cancers, SYT7 shows tumor-promoting effects. In non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), SYT7 knockdown experiments in A549 and H1299 cells demonstrated that it increases exosome secretion, promoting angiogenesis by transferring exosomes containing CEP55 protein to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and activating the mTOR signaling pathway through CEP55 [1]. In thyroid cancer, knockdown of SYT7 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and promoted apoptosis, while overexpression had the opposite effects [2]. Similar results were seen in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC), breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and gastric cancer with hepatic metastasis [3,4,5,6,7,8]. For example, in CLL, SYT7 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and anti-apoptosis, and in vivo xenograft tumor growth [3].

In conclusion, SYT7 is an important molecule in cancer-related biological processes. Gene knockout and knockdown models in various cancers have revealed its role in promoting cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and inhibiting apoptosis. These findings suggest SYT7 could be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in multiple cancer types.

References:

1. Liu, Xiao, Li, Rui, Chen, Xiao, Jiang, Yuanyuan, Qu, Yiqing. 2023. SYT7 is a key player in increasing exosome secretion and promoting angiogenesis in non-small-cell lung cancer. In Cancer letters, 577, 216400. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216400. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37774826/

2. Dong, Shuai, Pan, Jun, Shen, Yi-Bin, Wu, Yi-Jun, Xie, Xiao-Jun. 2022. SYT7 plays a role in promoting thyroid cancer by mediating HMGB3 ubiquitination. In Endocrine-related cancer, 29, 175-189. doi:10.1530/ERC-21-0146. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35073278/

3. Zhang, Wenjie, Long, Jinlan, Tang, Peixia, Zhan, Rong, Xu, Zhenshu. 2023. SYT7 regulates the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia through interacting and regulating KNTC1. In Biomarker research, 11, 58. doi:10.1186/s40364-023-00506-4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37280656/

4. Huang, Jinbing, Xu, Wensheng, Huang, Qiaoqiao, Chen, Erling, Chen, Junying. 2024. SYT7 (synaptotagmin 7) promotes cervical squamous cell carcinoma. In Heliyon, 10, e24806. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24806. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38314285/

5. Luo, Chenghao, Mo, Qingfan, Ren, Guosheng. 2024. SYT7 promotes breast cancer cells growth through the PI3K/AKT pathway. In Translational cancer research, 13, 2767-2778. doi:10.21037/tcr-24-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38988943/

6. Fu, You, Tian, Guocai, Zhang, Zhiyuan, Yang, Xiao. 2021. SYT7 acts as an oncogene and a potential therapeutic target and was regulated by ΔNp63α in HNSCC. In Cancer cell international, 21, 696. doi:10.1186/s12935-021-02394-w. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34930262/

7. Li, Yinguang, Shao, Fengping, Huang, Ying, Zhao, Yunhe, Yuan, Linjing. 2024. SYT7 as a Potential Prognostic Marker Promotes the Metastasis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells by Activating the STAT3 Pathway. In Molecular carcinogenesis, 63, 2441-2455. doi:10.1002/mc.23821. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39329325/

8. Kanda, Mitsuro, Tanaka, Haruyoshi, Shimizu, Dai, Fujiwara, Michitaka, Kodera, Yasuhiro. 2018. SYT7 acts as a driver of hepatic metastasis formation of gastric cancer cells. In Oncogene, 37, 5355-5366. doi:10.1038/s41388-018-0335-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29858600/