Tumor cell nuclear envelope and chromatin

The tumor cell nuclear envelope and chromatin represent a complex structural and functional interface that is frequently dysregulated in malignancy (PMID: 39866838). The nuclear envelope, consisting of the inner and outer nuclear membranes, nuclear pore complexes, and the underlying nuclear lamina, provides a scaffold for chromatin organization and regulates the transport of proteins and RNA (PMID: 28137711). In tumor cells, alterations in these structures—such as changes in lamin expression or nuclear pore composition—lead to abnormal nuclear morphology, genomic instability, and aberrant gene expression patterns (PMID: 24703028). Therapeutic strategies targeting this interface include nuclear export inhibitors like selinexor, which targets XPO1 (Exportin-1) to prevent the export of tumor suppressor proteins (PMID: 30104359). Additionally, chromatin-modifying agents and DNA-binding drugs like doxorubicin interact with this complex to induce cell death and modulate gene accessibility (PMID: 27157038). Understanding the crosstalk between the nuclear envelope and chromatin is critical for developing novel mechanotherapies that exploit the mechanical vulnerabilities of cancer cell nuclei (PMID: 39866838).

Other names

Nuclear envelope-chromatin interfaceTumor cell nucleusNucleoskeleton-chromatin complexNuclear periphery

Inhibition of XPO1-mediated nuclear export of tumor suppressor proteins, DNA intercalation and inhibition of topoisomerase II, inhibition of histone deacetylases to modulate gene expression, and inhibition of farnesyltransferase to prevent lamin processing.