Advances in research on the carcinogenic mechanisms and therapeutic potential of YAP1 in bladder cancer (Review)

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Quinn

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary system, characterized by high morbidity and limited understanding of its pathogenesis. This review focuses on the Hippo signaling pathway effector Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), describing how YAP1 overexpression in bladder cancer contributes to tumor occurrence, progression, cisplatin resistance, and recurrence. It consolidates evidence linking YAP1 to disease onset, progression, and therapeutic mechanisms, and evaluates YAP1’s promise for diagnosis and targeted treatment.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Regulation of YAP1 activity in bladder cancer

YAP1 participates in the progression of bladder cancer

Therapeutic potential of YAP1-targeting in bladder cancer

Limitations and prospects

Conclusion

ONCOLOGY REPORTS 53: 10, 2025 Advances in research on the carcinogenic mechanisms and therapeutic potential of YAP1 in bladder cancer (Review) TIANYU HUANG 1 , LONGMEI FAN 1 , JIAJIA TANG 1 , SHICHENG CHEN2 , GUOTU DU 1 and NENG ZHANG 1 1 Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, P.R. China; 2 Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, P.R. China Received June 13, 2024; Accepted September 25, 2024 DOI: 10. 3892/or.2024.8843 Abstract. Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system with high morbidity and no clear pathogenesis . The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that regulates organ size and maintains tissue homeostasis . Yes‑associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a key effector of this pathway and regulates downstream target genes by binding to transcriptional co‑activators with PDZ binding sequences (TAZ) . Several studies have demonstrated that YAP1 is overexpressed in bladder cancer and is involved in adverse outcomes such as bladder cancer occurrence, progression, resistance tocisplatin and the recurrence of tumours. The present review summarized the involvement of YAP1 in bladder cancer disease onset and progression, and the mechanism of YAP1 involvement in bladder cancer treatment. In addition, this study further explored the potential of YAP1 in the diag‑ nosis and treatment of bladder cancer. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of YAP1 in the treatment of bladder cancer. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Regulation of YAP1 activity in bladder cancer 3. YAP1 participates in the progression of bladder cancer 4. Therapeutic potential of YAP1‑targeting in bladder cancer 5. Limitations and prospects 6. Conclusion Correspondence to: Professor Neng Zhang, Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, 149 Dalian Road, Huichuan, Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, P.R. China E‑mail: [energy20170118@hotmail.com](energy20170118@hotmail.com) Key words: bladder cancer, yes‑associated protein 1, Hippo signaling pathway, targeted therapy, drug‑resistant 1. Introduction The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signal pathway that was first identified in Drosophila and plays an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation, apop‑ tosis and tissue and organ growth (1,2). Yes‑associated protein 1 (YAP1), a pivotal component of the Hippo signaling pathway, is encoded by the YAP1 gene located on human chromosome 11q22 and functions as an oncogenic protein (Fig. 1) (3). When the Hippo pathway is disrupted, mammalian STE20‑like protein kinase 1/2 (Mst1/2) kinases become phosphorylated and activated, which in turn activates downstream large tumor suppressor kinase 1 and 2 ((LATS1/2) kinases. These activated LATS1/2 kinases phosphorylate YAP1, leading to its degrada‑ tion in the cytoplasm (4). Conversely, dephosphorylated YAP1 translocates to the nucleus, binds to the TEA domain (TEAD) and promotes the transcription of downstream genes (for example, CTGF and Cyr61) (5,6) . YAP1/transcriptional co‑activator with PDZ‑binding motif (TAZ) play essential roles in regulating cell proliferation and are crucial for organ regeneration, development and stem cell self‑renewal (7) . They are influenced by various factors, including the microenvironment and extracellular signals . Additionally, YAP1 can activate survival pathways to inhibit apoptosis and interacts with multiple signaling networks (8), contributing to cancer development and progression (9) . Elevated YAP1 expression is associated with malignant tumor recurrence, metastasis, reduced overall survival and chemotherapy resistance (10) . In human cancers, YAP/TAZ target genes are associated with poor prognosis and increased treatment resistance (11) . YAP1 is highly expressed in various cancers and linked to adverse outcomes, including

FAQs

What role does YAP1 play in the Hippo signaling pathway relevant to bladder cancer?

YAP1 is a key effector of the Hippo pathway. It is phosphorylated by downstream kinases under active Hippo signaling and, when dephosphorylated, translocates to the nucleus to drive transcription via TEAD.

How is YAP1 linked to bladder cancer outcomes such as progression and treatment resistance?

YAP1 is overexpressed in bladder cancer and is associated with adverse outcomes including disease progression, resistance to cisplatin, recurrence, and poorer prognosis.

What therapeutic potential does the review attribute to YAP1-targeted strategies?

The review summarizes how YAP1 contributes to mechanisms underlying bladder cancer treatment and discusses its potential as a therapeutic target, including possibilities for diagnosis and treatment approaches.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Quinn