The Structural Proteins of Membrane Rafts, Caveolinsand Flotillins, in Lung Cancer: More Than Just Scaffold Elements

Sep 24, 2026

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Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality due to late detection. While tobacco smoking is a major risk factor, accumulating evidence highlights genetic contributions and other environmental influences such as air pollution exposure. Membrane rafts are highly ordered membrane microdomains that coordinate key processes in lung cancer development and progression, including endocytosis, protein secretion, and signal transduction. This review summarizes molecular knowledge on how caveolins and flotillins participate in lung carcinogenesis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

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Introduction

Lung cancer risk factors and molecular mechanisms

Membrane rafts and lipid rafts: signaling roles

The role of MR proteins in LC

Ivyspring International Publisher InternationalJournal of Medical Sciences 2023; 20(13): 1662-1670. doi: 10.7150/ijms.87836 Review The Structural Proteins of Membrane Rafts, Caveolinsand Flotillins, in Lung Cancer: More Than Just Scaffold Elements Ana Karina Saldaña-Villa, Roberto Lara-Lemus􀀍 Department of Molecular Biomedicine and Translational Research, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias “Ismael Cosío Villegas”. Mexico City, Mexico. 􀀍 Corresponding author: [betony44@hotmail.com](betony44@hotmail.com); 52 55 54871705. © The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)). See [http://ivyspring.com/terms](http://ivyspring.com/terms) for full terms and conditions. Received: 2023.07.06; Accepted: 2023.08.25; Published: 2023.10.02 Abstract Lung cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide. Due to its late diagnosis, it remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite it is mostly associated to tobacco smoking, recent data suggested that genetic factors are of the highest importance. In this context, different processes meaningful for the development and progression of lung cancer such endocytosis, protein secretion and signal transduction, are controlled by membrane rafts. These highly ordered membrane domains contain proteins such as caveolins and flotillins, which were traditionally considered scaffold proteins but have currently been given a preponderant role in lung cancer. Here, we summarize current knowledge regarding the involvement of caveolins and flotillins in lung cancer from a molecular point of view. Keywords: Lung cancer, membrane rafts, caveolins, flotillins, carcinogenesis. Introduction Primary lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In 2020, it was the most diagnosed cancer after breast cancer [1,2] . Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most frequent type of LC, accounting for approximately 80% to 85% of the cases, while small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 15% of all the patients [3] . LC is associated with tobacco smoking, but recent data indicate that 14% of LC deaths can be attributed to air pollution exposure; these values vary between 5% to more than 20% in different countries [4] . These data imply that LC currently affects populations with low smoking prevalence. LC is influenced by endogenous and external factors that impact different molecular mechanisms involved in cell division, differentiation, and death, eventually leading to cellular transformation, cancer, and metastasis. LC have significant differences in cellular morphology, and despite progress in treatment approaches, the overall survival rate within five years is still less than 20%[5,6] . Therefore, it is crucial to understand better the molecular mechanisms underlying LC development, progression, and metastasis in order to improve prevention, treatment efficacy, and survival. Recent advances in cancer research have revealed the complex scenario, and dynamic nature of cancer pathogenesis. In particular, research in epigenetics has evidenced that cancer involves profound changes in cellular functions due to alterations in genome structure, stability, and gene expression [7-9] . Growth receptors, transducing mediators, and effectors play a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation, and significant advances have been reported regarding the contribution of these molecules in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and drug targeting [10-12] . Lipid rafts (LR) are membrane subdomains involved in the transport and localization of different signaling transduction elements regulating cell proliferation. For example, it is a well-documented fact, that LR participates in the translocation of the tumor necrosis factor receptor, which is essential for TNF-α-media

FAQs

Why is lung cancer still highly lethal despite tobacco being the main risk factor?

Late diagnosis keeps lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Although tobacco smoking is common, additional genetic factors and environmental exposures contribute to disease burden.

What roles do membrane rafts play in lung cancer progression?

Membrane rafts help control processes such as endocytosis, protein secretion, and signal transduction. Their ordered organization allows raft-associated proteins to influence signaling outcomes relevant to cancer.

What is the focus of this review regarding caveolins and flotillins?

The review summarizes current molecular knowledge on the involvement of caveolins and flotillins in lung cancer, emphasizing that these proteins were traditionally seen as scaffold components but now have a more predominant role in disease.

Sep 24, 2026

Upload by Mimi