Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40157366›Full record

ArticleAmerican journal of human genetics2025

Interplay and cooperation between GLI2 and master transcription factors promote progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Yin-Qiao Liu, Ze-Jun Zheng, Wang-Kai Fang, Yan-Shang Li, Chun Li, Min Yang, Dong-Chen Han, Jun-Hua Zhou, Ying-Hua Xie, Yu-Ying Zhang and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in American journal of human genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yin-Qiao LiuDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Chaoshan Branch of State Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Ze-Jun ZhengGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, Institute of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, P.R. China.
Wang-Kai FangDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Yan-Shang LiDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Chun LiDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Min YangDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Dong-Chen HanBeijing University of Chinese Medicine, Fangshan 102400, China.
Jun-Hua ZhouDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Ying-Hua XieDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Yu-Ying ZhangDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Zhuo-Ying KangDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Yi-Wei XuDepartment of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Chaoshan Branch of State Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China. Electronic address: yiwei512@126.com.
Jian-Jun XieDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology and Molecular Diagnostics, Institute of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, P.R. China. Electronic address: xiejj0816@foxmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The establishment of gene expression programs that drive cell identity is governed by tightly regulated transcription factors (TFs) that engage in auto- and cross-regulation in a feedforward manner, forming core regulatory circuitries (CRCs). Here, we identify and validate an important interconnected CRC formed by three master TFs-GLI2, TP63, and RUNX1-in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Furthermore, master TFs co-bind to their own and each other's super-enhancers, forming an interconnected auto-regulatory loop. Mechanistically, these master TFs occupy the majority of ESCC super-enhancers and cooperatively orchestrate the ESCC transcription program. Functionally, GLI2, a master TF, is essential for ESCC viability, migration, invasion, and the growth of xenograft tumors. Moreover, the overexpression of GLI2 is significantly associated with shorter overall survival of patients with ESCC. Downstream, this CRC apparatus coordinately regulates gene expression networks in ESCC, controlling important cancer-promoting pathways, including Hedgehog, glycolysis, and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathways. Together, these findings offer significant mechanistic insights into the transcriptional dysregulation in ESCC and recognize GLI2 as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker for ESCC. More importantly, CRC-downstream genes and signaling pathways may contain potential therapeutic targets for this malignancy.

Indexed as

Esophageal NeoplasmsEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaTranscription FactorsTumor Suppressor ProteinsZinc Finger Protein Gli2AnimalsCell Line, TumorCell MovementCell ProliferationDisease ProgressionFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticGene Regulatory NetworksHumansMiceMice, NudeGLI2 protein, humanNuclear ProteinsTP63 protein, humanTranscription FactorsTumor Suppressor ProteinsZinc Finger Protein Gli2esophageal cancergene regulationoncogenesissignal transductiontranscription factor

Identifiers

PMID40157366
PMCPMC12120187

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.