Decoding the role of SPRR1A and SPRR1B gene in cancer: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Despite the advancement in understanding tumour biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer patients, overall survival is still a major concern among the medical fraternity. Drug resistance accounts for about 90 % of chemotherapy failure, which is often linked to gene expression. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanism of the novel genes in cancer development, prognosis, and survival could bring a milestone change in cancer management. Small proline-rich proteins (SPRR1), particularly SPRR1A and SPRR1B, have been reported as an emerging molecule in cancer. Generally, SPRR1A or SPRR1B genes have been found to be overexpressed in the lung's cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, lymphoma, and bladder cancer, whereas they are often found to be downregulated in esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, cervical cancer, etc. However, SPRR1A/SPRR1B expressions are frequently altered in head and neck cancer and reported to influence cancer prognosis and outcomes, but their expression remains uncertain as they show both up and down regulation. Thus, up or down-regulation of SPRR1A/1B due to dysregulation of pathways such as RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, and JAK/STAT accelerates tumorigenesis either by promoting proliferation, metastasis, or by affecting survival and drug response. Although there are limited studies on their implications in chemoresistance, SPRR1A/1B can be used as a theranostic marker for cancer, further exploring its relevance in the field of precision medicine.