Dlgap5, also known as DLG7, encodes a microtubule-associated protein DLG7 which is crucial during spindle assembly. Spindle assembly regulation is vital for maintaining genomic stability, thus Dlgap5 is of great biological importance in cell division processes [8].

In multiple cancer types, Dlgap5 shows oncogenic properties. In lung adenocarcinoma, its high expression is associated with poor prognosis, and it promotes cancer growth by upregulating PLK1 [1]. In bladder cancer, it triggers cell proliferation and metastasis by stabilizing E2F1 via USP11, and also enhances chemoresistance by regulating glycolysis through MYC stabilization [2,3]. In prostate adenocarcinoma, it promotes neuroendocrine differentiation by upregulating E2F1 [4]. In endometrial cancer, knockdown of Dlgap5 inactivates the Wnt/β-catenin signal to repress cell malignant activities [5]. In gallbladder cancer, it promotes migration and tumor-associated macrophage M2 polarization by activating cAMP [6]. In breast cancer, it regulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis [7]. In colorectal cancer, its downregulation reduces invasion and migration potential, and overexpression is linked to poor survival in non-metastatic patients [8]. In ovarian cancer, knockdown of Dlgap5 suppresses cell proliferation, induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis [9].

In conclusion, Dlgap5 plays a significant role in cell division-related processes and is closely associated with the development and progression of various cancers. Functional studies, especially those using knockdown models in different cancer cell lines, have revealed its oncogenic functions in promoting cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and in some cases, regulating cancer-related signaling pathways. This understanding of Dlgap5's role in cancer provides potential therapeutic targets for treating these malignancies.

References:

1. Chen, Maojian, Zhang, Shaoping, Wang, Fan, Jiang, Wei, Zhang, Li. 2024. DLGAP5 promotes lung adenocarcinoma growth via upregulating PLK1 and serves as a therapeutic target. In Journal of translational medicine, 22, 209. doi:10.1186/s12967-024-04910-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38414025/

2. Zhou, Fenfang, Deng, Zhao, Shen, Dexin, Ju, Lingao, Wang, Xinghuan. 2024. DLGAP5 triggers proliferation and metastasis of bladder cancer by stabilizing E2F1 via USP11. In Oncogene, 43, 594-607. doi:10.1038/s41388-023-02932-y. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38182895/

3. Deng, Zhao, Zhou, Fenfang, Li, Mingxing, Xiao, Yu, Wang, Xinghuan. 2025. DLGAP5 enhances bladder cancer chemoresistance by regulating glycolysis through MYC stabilization. In Theranostics, 15, 2375-2392. doi:10.7150/thno.102730. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39990228/

4. Liang, Linghui, Shen, Zhiyi, Zhang, Kaiyu, Zhao, Ruizhe, Feng, Ninghan. 2025. DLGAP5 upregulates E2F1 to promote prostate adenocarcinoma neuroendocrine differentiation. In Life sciences, 365, 123442. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2025.123442. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39923838/

5. Chen, Ruipu, Liu, Jing, Hu, Jun, Liu, Yanhua, Pan, Weiwei. 2022. DLGAP5 knockdown inactivates the Wnt/β-catenin signal to repress endometrial cancer cell malignant activities. In Environmental toxicology, 38, 685-693. doi:10.1002/tox.23720. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36454672/

6. Huang, Jie, Zheng, Mengyao, Li, Yan, Xu, Dingwei, Tian, Daguang. 2023. DLGAP5 promotes gallbladder cancer migration and tumor-associated macrophage M2 polarization by activating cAMP. In Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII, 72, 3203-3216. doi:10.1007/s00262-023-03484-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37421434/

7. Li, Yujie, Wei, Jie, Sun, Yao, Zhang, Huan, Jin, Tianbo. 2023. DLGAP5 Regulates the Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Cell Cycle of Breast Cancer Cells via the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Axis. In International journal of molecular sciences, 24, . doi:10.3390/ijms242115819. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37958803/

8. Branchi, Vittorio, García, Sebastián A, Radhakrishnan, Praveen, Reißfelder, Christoph, Schölch, Sebastian. 2019. Prognostic value of DLGAP5 in colorectal cancer. In International journal of colorectal disease, 34, 1455-1465. doi:10.1007/s00384-019-03339-6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31286215/

9. Zhang, Huijun, Liu, Yuan, Tang, Shengchun, Zhang, Jing, Liu, Bo. 2021. Knockdown of DLGAP5 suppresses cell proliferation, induces G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in ovarian cancer. In Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 22, 1245. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.10680. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34539841/