With the continuous development of bioinformatics and public database, more and more genes that play a role in
cancers have been discovered.
Synaptotagmins (SYTs) are abundant, evolutionarily conserved
integral membrane proteins composed of a short N-terminus, a variable linker domain, a single transmembrane domain, and two C2 domains, and they constitute a family of 17
isoforms. The
synaptotagmin family members are known to regulate
calcium-dependent membrane fusion events. Some SYTs play roles in
hormone secretion or
neurotransmitter release or both, and much evidence supports SYTs as Ca2+ sensors of exocytosis. Since 5 years ago, an increasing number of studies have found that SYTs also played important roles in the occurrence and development of
lung cancer,
gastric cancer,
colon cancer, and other
cancers. Down-regulation of SYTs inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of
cancer cells, but promoted cell apoptosis. Growth of peritoneal nodules is inhibited and survival is prolonged in mice administrated with siSYTs intraperitoneally. Therefore, most studies have found SYTs serve as an oncogene after overexpression and may become potential prognostic
biomarkers for multiple
cancers. This article provides an overview of recent studies that focus on SYT family members' roles in
cancers and highlights the advances that have been achieved.