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Tumor Discovery WDR4 in cancer

these obstacles and fully realize the therapeutic potential Disciplines in the Three-year Plan of Shanghai Municipal
of WDR4, advanced drug design, and innovative delivery Public Health System (2023 – 2025) (GWVI-11.1-42).
systems will be critical. Specifically, developing highly
selective inhibitors or modulators will help minimize Conflict of interest
side effects on non-tumor cells. In addition, personalized The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
therapeutic strategies may be more effective in addressing
the heterogeneity of different tumor types. Further research Author contributions
into the function of WDR4 in normal cells and tissues is Conceptualization: All authors
warranted to explore strategies for avoiding unwanted side Visualization: Xun Zou
effects and for achieving precision treatment. Therefore, Writing – original draft: All authors
integrating basic research with clinical needs and fostering Writing – review & editing: Bin Liu, Ling Tao
multidisciplinary collaboration in drug development
are key steps toward the successful clinical translation of Ethics approval and consent to participate
WDR4-targeted therapies.
Not applicable.
5. Future directions for WDR4 research in
cancer Consent for publication
Not applicable.
To validate the therapeutic potential of WDR4-targeting
strategy, future research should focus on mapping its Availability of data
interaction networks, developing precise preclinical
models, exploring combination therapy approaches, and Not applicable.
investigating its role in cancer stem cells and drug resistance. References
Understanding how WDR4 influences cancer biology and
its interactions within the tumor microenvironment will 1. Cheng W, Gao A, Lin H, Zhang W. Novel roles of METTL1/
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6. Conclusion doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.05.009
Given its roles in RNA modification, protein stability, 2. Michaud J, Kudoh J, Berry A, et al. Isolation and
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overexpression and association with aggressive tumor WD-repeat protein. Genomics. 2000;68(1):71-79.
phenotypes underscore its potential as both a biomarker doi: 10.1006/geno.2000.6258
and a therapeutic target. Advances in structural biology,
preclinical modeling, and combination therapies could 3. Dedon PC, Begley TJ. Dysfunctional tRNA reprogramming
and codon-biased translation in cancer. Trends Mol Med.
transform WDR4 into a cornerstone of cancer treatment, 2022;28(11):964-978.
offering new hope for patients with aggressive and
treatment-resistant cancers. Continued research into doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.09.007
its molecular functions and interactions will be critical 4. Zhang X, Zhu WY, Shen SY, Shen JH, Chen XD. Biological
for translating WDR4-targeted therapies from bench to roles of RNA m7G modification and its implications in
bedside. cancer. Biol Direct. 2023;18(1):58.
doi: 10.1186/s13062-023-00414-5
Acknowledgments
5. Tang Q, Li L, Wang Y, et al. RNA modifications in cancer. Br
None. J Cancer. 2023;129(2):204-221.
Funding doi: 10.1038/s41416-023-02275-1

This study was supported by the National Natural 6. Zhang Y, Xu W, Peng C, et al. Exploring the role of m7G
modification in Cancer: Mechanisms, regulatory proteins,
Science Foundation of China (82273167, 82304124), and biomarker potential. Cell Signal. 2024;121:111288.
Jiangsu Province Basic Research Program Natural
Science Foundation (Outstanding Youth Fund Project, doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111288
BK20220063), the Key Program of Basic Science (Natural 7. Luo Y, Yao Y, Wu P, Zi X, Sun N, He J. The potential role
Science) of Jiangsu Province (22KJA350001), and the Key of N -methylguanosine (m7G) in cancer. J Hematol Oncol.
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Volume 4 Issue 1 (2025) 43 doi: 10.36922/td.5830