Role and potential clinical utility of ARID1A in gastrointestinal malignancy

ARID1A (AT-rich interactive domain 1A) is a newly discovered tumor suppressor gene, and its encoded product is an important component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. ARID1A plays an important role in cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and the regulation of other of biological behaviors. Recently, ARID1A mutations have been increasingly reported in esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and other malignant tumors of the digestive system. This article reviews the relationship between ARID1A mutation and the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, including microsatellite instability and the PI3K/ATK signaling pathway, and relates these mechanisms to the prognostic assessment of digestive malignancy. Further, this review describes the potential for molecular pathologic epidemiology (MPE) to provide new insights into environment-tumor-host interactions. (c) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

ARID1A is a newly discovered tumor suppressor gene that plays a crucial role in various biological behaviors and molecular mechanisms associated with carcinogenesis. Mutations in ARID1A have been increasingly reported in various digestive malignancies, impacting the prognosis of these cancers. The potential of molecular pathologic epidemiology (MPE) to provide insights into environment-tumor-host interactions is also discussed.