ARID1A, a key subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, plays a context-dependent function in cancer, acting both as a tumor suppressor and, in certain conditions, as an oncogene. ARID1A, as a tumor suppressor, maintains transcriptional regulation, genomic stability, and cellular differentiation. In breast cancer, ARID1A loss-of-function leads to dysregulation of cell cycle checkpoints and impaired DNA repair and promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), jointly accelerating tumor proliferation and increasing therapeutic resistance. Notably, context-dependent ARID1A loss-of-function often concurs with activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and corresponds with poor prognosis. On the contrary, aberrant ARID1A overexpression can provoke oxidative stress and agitate the cytochrome P450 system, potentially facilitating early tumorigenesis. Consequently, understanding ARID1A’s dual and context-dependent role highlights its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target in precision oncology.
ARID1A作为SWI/SNF染色质重塑复合体的关键亚基,在癌症中发挥着环境依赖的双重功能:既可作为抑癌基因,又在特定条件下发挥癌基因作用。作为抑癌因子,ARID1A通过维持转录调控、基因组稳定性和细胞分化状态发挥保护作用。在乳腺癌中,ARID1A功能缺失会导致细胞周期检查点失调、DNA修复能力受损,并促进上皮-间质转化(EMT),共同加速肿瘤增殖并增强治疗抵抗性。值得注意的是,这种环境依赖性的ARID1A功能缺失常伴随PI3K/AKT信号通路激活,并与不良预后相关。相反,ARID1A的异常过表达可能引发氧化应激并激活细胞色素P450系统,从而潜在地促进早期肿瘤发生。因此,深入理解ARID1A这种环境依赖的双重角色,凸显了其作为精准肿瘤学中生物标志物和治疗靶标的重要潜力。