Nucleolus, ribosome biogenesis and tumor growth: literature review
- Authors: Bobrov I.P.1, Lazarev A.F.1, Korsikov N.A.1, Dolgatov A.Y.1, Lepilov A.V.1, Dolgatova E.S.1, Pimenova A.A.1, Lushnikova E.L.2, Bakarev M.A.2
-
Affiliations:
- Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Pathomorphology of the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk
- Section: Reviews
- Submitted: 26.02.2025
- Accepted: 15.09.2025
- Published: 25.10.2025
- URL: https://rjonco.com/1028-9984/article/view/665787
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/onco665787
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/YWWOWV
- ID: 665787
Cite item
Abstract
The review examines aspects of the interrelationships of the morpho-functional activity of the nucleolus and ribosome biogenesis with the occurrence and progression of malignant neoplasms. To prepare this literature review, an electronic systematic search was conducted for review and research articles in the PubMed database devoted to the study of the nucleolar apparatus of cells in tumor growth. The information was searched in English for the following keywords: nucleolus, nuclear stress, ribosome biogenesis, cancer. The mechanisms of nucleolar stress and the molecular mechanisms leading to disruption of the nucleolar apparatus during tumor growth are highlighted. It has been shown that mutations and changes in the expression of suppressor proteins, oncogenes, and cell cycle regulators lead to impaired nucleolar function and accelerated ribosome biogenesis. An increase in the number and size of nucleoli is an important prognostic factor in malignant neoplasms. Disruption of the function of the nucleolar apparatus and changes in the structure of ribosomes is important in the pathogenesis of cancer development against the background of ribosomopathy and viral diseases. The study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathology of the nucleolus, biogenesis and pathology of ribosomes can contribute to the development of new targeted drugs for the treatment of cancer.
Keywords
Full Text
About the authors
Igor P. Bobrov
Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
Email: ig.bobrov2010@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9097-6733
SPIN-code: 2375-1427
MD, Dr. Sci (Medicine), Professor of the Department of Forensic Medicine named after Professor V.N. Kryukov and Pathological Anatomy with a course of additional professional education
Russian Federation, Barnaul, RussiaAlexandr F. Lazarev
Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
Email: lazarev@akzs.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1080-5294
SPIN-code: 1161-8387
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor of the Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy with a course of additional professional education
Russian Federation, Barnaul, RussiaNikolay A. Korsikov
Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
Email: nikkor94knaagmu@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0094-4656
SPIN-code: 2534-3641
Assistant of the Department of Forensic Medicine named after Professor V.N. Kryukov and Pathological Anatomy with a course of additional professional education
Russian Federation, Barnaul, RussiaAndrey Yu. Dolgatov
Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
Email: adolgatov@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7677-4622
SPIN-code: 2804-0011
MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor of the Department of Forensic Medicine named after Professor V.N. Kryukov and Pathological Anatomy with a course of additional professional education
Russian Federation, Barnaul, RussiaAlexander V. Lepilov
Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
Email: lepilov@list.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2477-4687
SPIN-code: 7516-0963
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine named after Professor V.N. Kryukov and Pathological Anatomy with a course of additional professional education
Russian Federation, Barnaul, RussiaElena S. Dolgatova
Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
Email: adolgatov@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6678-4472
SPIN-code: 5801-0114
Assistant of the Department of Forensic Medicine named after Professor V.N. Kryukov and Pathological Anatomy with a course of additional professional education
Russian Federation, Barnaul, RussiaAnna A. Pimenova
Altai State Medical University, Barnaul
Email: k-sudmed@asmu.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0002-9382-2857
SPIN-code: 7516-0976
Postgraduate student of the Department of Forensic Medicine named after Professor V.N. Kryukov and Pathological Anatomy with a course of additional professional education
Russian Federation, Barnaul, RussiaElena L. Lushnikova
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Pathomorphology of the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk
Email: pathol@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2614-8690
SPIN-code: 3310-1175
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Director of the Institute of Molecular Pathology and Pathomorphology. Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk, RussiaMaxim A. Bakarev
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Pathomorphology of the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk
Author for correspondence.
Email: pathol@inbox.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9614-592X
SPIN-code: 3630-9977
MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor, Head of the laboratory – chief researcher
Russian Federation, Novosibirsk, RussiaReferences
- Bahadori M. New Insights into Connection of Nucleolar Functions and Cancer. Tanaffos. 2019;18(3):173–179.
- Latonen L. Phase-to-Phase With Nucleoli —Stress Responses, Protein Aggregation and Novel Roles of RNA. Front Cell Neurosci. 2019;13:1–10.doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00151
- Penzo M, Montanaro L, Treré D, Derenzini M. The Ribosome Biogenesis — Cancer Connection. Cells. 2019;8(1):55. doi: 10.3390/cells8010055
- Elhamamsy AR, Metge BJ, Alsheikh HA, Shevde LA, Samant RS. Ribosome Biogenesis: A Central Player in Cancer Metastasis and Therapeutic Resistance. Cancer Res. 2022;82:2344–2353.doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-4087
- Pederson T. The nucleolus. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2011;3(3):a000638. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a000638
- Jiao L, Liu Y, Yu XY, et al. Ribosome biogenesis in disease: new players and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2023;8(1):15. doi: 10.1038/s41392-022-01285-4
- Németh A, Grummt I. Dynamic regulation of nucleolar architecture. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2018;52:105–111. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2018.02.013
- Lu L, Yi H, Chen C, et al. Nucleolar stress: is there a reverse version? J Cancer. 2018;9:3723–3727.doi: 10.7150/jca.27660
- Lafita-Navarro MC, Conacci-Sorrell M. Nucleolar stress: From development to cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol.2023;136:64–74. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.04.001
- Verheyden Y, Goedert L, Leucci E. Control of nucleolar stress and translational reprogramming by lncRNAs. Cell Stress. 2019;3:19–26. doi: 10.15698/cst2019.01.172
- Pfister AS. Emerging Role of the Nucleolar Stress Response in Autophagy. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 2019;13:156. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00156
- Lindstrom M. NPM/B23: a multifunctional chaperone in ribosome biogenesis and chromatin remodeling. Biochem Res Int.2011;201:195209.doi: 10.1155/2011/195209
- Xu X, Xiong X, Sun Y. The role of ribosomal proteins in the regulation of cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, and genomic integrity. Sci China Life Sci. 2016;59(7):656–672. doi: 10.1007/s11427-016-0018-0
- Weeks SE, Brandon J, Metge BJ, Samant RS. The nucleolus: a central response hub for the stressors that drive cancer progression. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 2019;76:4511–4524. doi: 10.1007/s00018-019-03231-0
- Bobrov IP, Dolgatov AYu, Lepilov AV, et al. Structural Changes in Rat Hepatocyte Nucleolus under Nucleolar Stress Caused by Hypothermia. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2024;176(4):519–521. doi: 10.1007/s10517-024-06059-2EDN: OZNWVO
- Sazonova EN, Tcimbalist NA, Kaplieva OV, Lebed’ko OA. The influence of non-opiate analogue of leu-enkephalin to the cardiac consequences of intrauterine hypoxia of albino rats. Russ Open Med J. 2019;8(4):е0401. doi: 10.15275/rusomj.2019.0401EDN: LULOQS
- Huang Y, Flentke GR, Rivera OC et al. Alcohol Exposure Induces Nucleolar Stress and Apoptosis in Mouse Neural Stem Cells and Late-Term Fetal. Brain Cells. 2024;13(5):440. doi: 10.3390/cells13050440
- Yan D, Hua L. Nucleolarstress: Friend or foe in cardiacfunction? Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022;9:1045455. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1045455
- Brooks WH. Polyamine Dysregulation and Nucleolar Disruption in Alzheimer’s Disease. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2024;98:837–857.doi: 10.3233/JAD-231184
- Matos-Perdomo E, Machín F. Nucleolar and Ribosomal DNA Structure under Stress: Yeast Lessons for Aging and Cancer. Cells. 2019;8:779. doi: 10.3390/cells8080779
- Carotenuto P, Pecoraro A, Palma G, Russo G, Russo A. Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Nucleolus in Cancer. Cells. 2019;8:1090. doi: 10.3390/cells8091090
- Vyas T, Verma P, Abidullah M, et al. Quantitative analysis of AgNOR counts and pap stain in exfoliative cytology specimens of oral mucosa in bidi smokers and nonsmokers. Ann Afr Med. 2018;17(4):210–214.doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_69_17
- Sowmya GV, Nahar P, Astekar M, et al. Analysis of silver binding nucleolar organizer regions in exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions. Biotech Histochem. 2017;92(2):115–121.doi: 10.1080/10520295.2017.1283055
- Avdalyan A, Lazarev A, Bobrov IP, Klimachev V. Prognostic value of microvessel density and peritumoral area as evaluated CD31 protein expression and argyrophilic nucleolar region count in endothelial cells in uterine leiomyosarcoma. Carcoma. 2012;2012:594512. doi: 10.1155/2012/594512EDN: RGMAJZ
- Avdalian AM, Kobyakov DS, Klimachev VV, et al. Expression of B23/Nucleophasphamine nonribosomal nucleolar protein in smooth muscle tumors of the corpus uteri. Bull Exp Biol and Med. 2015;160(2):286–290.doi: 10.1007/s10517-015-3152-xEDN: WTMAJH
- Kobyakov DS, Klimachev VV, Avdalyan AM, et al. Association between Argyrophilic Proteins of Nucleolar Organizer Regions, Clinicomorphological Parameters, and Survival in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Lung Cancer International. 2014;2014(3):1–7. doi: 10.1155/2014/891917EDN: UOHCOW
- Kobyakov DS, Bychkova EYu, Avdalyan AM, et al. Interrelation of Argyrophilic Proteins of Nucleolar Organizer Regions and Ki-67 with Clinical and Morphological Parameters and Survival in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research. 2014;4(22):3941–3953.doi: 10.9734/BJMMR/2014/10319 EDN: AXXAYT
- Kobyakov DS, Klimachev VV, Avdalyan AM, et al. Argyrophilic proteins of nucleolar organizer regions and proliferative activity of cells in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2014;157(5):677–682.doi: 10.1007/s10517-014-2642-6EDN: SFHIEY.
- Hwang S-P, Denicourt C. The impact of ribosome biogenesis in cancer: from proliferation to metastasis. NAR Cancer. 2024;6(2):zcae017. doi: 10.1093/narcan/zcae017
- Bagri-Manjrekar K, Chaudhary M, Sridharan G, et al. In vivo autofluorescence of oral squamous cell carcinoma correlated to cell proliferation rate. J Cancer Res Ther. 2018;14(3):553–558. doi: 10.4103/0973-1482.172710
- Destefanis F, Manara V, Bellosta P. Myc as a Regulator of Ribosome Biogenesis and Cell Competition: A Link to Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(11):4037.doi: 10.3390/ijms21114037
- Fefelova E A, Stolyarenko AD, Yakushev EY, et al. Participation of the piRNA pathway in recruiting a component of RNA polymerase I transcription initiation complex to germline cell nucleoli. Mol Biol. 2017;51(5):824–830.doi: 10.7868/S0026898417050093EDN: WSAZPC
- Stine ZE, Walton ZE, Altman BJ, Hsieh AL, et al. MYC, Metabolism, and Cancer. Cancer Discov. 2015;5(10):1024–1039. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-15-0507
- Engeland K. Cell cycle regulation: p53-p21-RB signaling. Cell Death Differ. 2022;29:946–960. doi: 10.1038/s41418-022-00988-z
- Mäkelä JA, Toppari J. Retinoblastoma-E2F Transcription Factor Interplay Is Essential for Testicular Development and Male Fertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;19(13):903684. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.903684
- Ciarmatori S, Scott PH, Sutcliffe JE, et al. Overlapping functions of the ppRB family in the regulation of rRNA synthesis. Mol Cell Biol.2001;21:5806–5814.doi: 10.1128/MCB.21.17.5806-5814.2001
- Donjerkovic D, Scott DW. Regulation of the G1 phase of the mammalian cell cycle. Cell Res. 2000;10:1–16.doi: 10.1038/sj.cr.7290031
- Sherr CJ, McCormick F. The RB and p53 pathways in cancer. Cancer Cell. 2002;2:103–112.doi: 10.1016/s1535-6108(02)00102-2
- Liu Y, ZhenyiSu, Tavana O, Gu W. Understanding the complexity of p53 in a new era of tumor suppression. Cancer Cell. 2024;42(6):946–967.doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.04.009
- Zhang C, Liu J, Xu D, et al. Gain-of-function mutant p53 in cancer progression and therapy. J Mol Cell Biol. 2020;12(9):674–687. doi: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa040
- Fontana R, Vivo M. Dynamics of p14ARF and Focal Adhesion Kinase-Mediated Autophagy in Cancer. Cancers. 2018;10(7):221. doi: 10.3390/cancers10070221
- Vashi R, Patel BM. Roles of ARF tumour suppressor protein in lung cancer: time to hit the nail on the head! Mol Cell Biochem. 2021;476(3):1365–1375.doi: 10.1007/s11010-020-03996-0
- Maehama T, Nishio M, Otani J, Mak TW, et al. Nucleolar stress: Molecular mechanisms and related human Diseases. Cancer Science. 2023;114:2078–2086.doi: 10.1111/cas.15755
- Montanaro L, Trere D, Derenzini M. Nucleolus, Ribosomes, and Cancer. The American Journal of Pathology. 2008;173(2):301–310.doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.070752
- Chandrashekar C, Patel P, Thennavan A, Radhakrishnan R. Odontogenic keratocyst: Analysis of recurrence by AgNOR, p53 and MDM2 profiling. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2020;24(1):184–185.doi: 10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_129_19
- Singh A, Singh S, Soni V, Srivastava DK. A Comparative Study of Morphometric Analysis of Nucleolar Organizer Regions in Oral Leukoplakia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Significance of AgNOR as a Diagnostic Tool. Cureus. 2023;15(8):e44228. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44228
- Samant H, Amiri HS, Zibari GB. Addressing the worldwide hepatocellular carcinoma: epidemiology, prevention and management. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2021;12(2):361–373.doi: 10.21037/jgo.2020.02.08
- Toh MR, Wong EYT, Wong SH, et al. Global Epidemiology and Genetics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gastroenterology. 2023;164(5):766–782.doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.01.033
- Wang HD, Trivedi A, Johnson DL. Regulation of RNA polymerase I-dependent promoters by the hepatitis B virus X protein via activated Ras and TATA-binding protein. Mol Cell Biol.1998;18:7086–7094.doi: 10.1128/MCB.18.12.7086
- Mahmoudvand S, Shokri S, Taherkhani R, Fsrshadpour F. Hepatitis C virus core protein modulates several signaling pathways involved in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol. 2019;25(1):42–58.doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i1.42
- Trere D, Borzio M, Morabito A, et al. Nucleolar hypertrophy correlates with hepatocellular carcinoma de velopment in cirrhosis due to HBV infection. Hepatology. 2003;37:72–78.doi: 10.1053/jhep.2003.50039
- Koike K. Molecular basis of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocarcinogenesis: lessons from animal model studies. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005;3(10):132–135.doi: 10.1016/s1542-3565(05)00700-7
- Wu S, Wagner G. Computational inference of eIF4F complex function and structure in human cancers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024;121(5):e2313589121.doi: 10.1073/pnas.2313589121
- Chen X, An Y, Tan M, et al. Biological functions and research progress of eIF4E. Front Oncol. 2023;13:1076855. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1076855
- Tsoi H, You CP, Leung MH, Man EPS, Khoo US. Targeting Ribosome Biogenesis to Combat Tamoxifen Resistance in ER+ve Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(5):1251. doi: 10.3390/cancers14051251
- Ruggero D, Montanaro L, Ma L, et al. The translation factor eIF-4E promotes tumor formation and cooperates with c-Myc in lymphomagenesis. Nat Med. 2004;10(5):484–486. doi: 10.1038/nm1042
- AlSabbagh MM. Dyskeratosis congenita: a literature review. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2020;18(9):943–967. doi: 10.1111/ddg.14268
- Garus A, Autexier C. Dyskerin: an essential pseudouridine synthase with multifaceted roles in ribosome biogenesis, splicing, and telomere maintenance. RNA. 2021;27(12):1441–1458. doi: 10.1261/rna.078953.121
- Qin J, Garus A, Autexier C. The C-terminal extension of dyskerin is a dyskeratosis congenita mutational hotspot that modulates interaction with telomerase RNA and subcellular localization. Hum Mol Genet. 2024;33(4):318–332.doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddad180
- Alnafakh R, Saretzki G, Midgley A, et al. Aberrant Dyskerin Expression Is Related to Proliferation and Poor Survival in Endometrial Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(2):273. doi: 10.3390/cancers13020273
- Kan G, Wang Z, Sheng C, et al. Dual Inhibition of DKC1 and MEK1/2 Synergistically Restrains the Growth of Colorectal Cancer Cells. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2021;8(10):2004344. doi: 10.1002/advs.202004344
- Ranhem C, Larsson GL, Lindqvist D, et al. Evaluation of dyskerin expression and the Cajal body protein WRAP53β as potential prognostic markers for patients with primary vaginal carcinoma.Oncol Lett. 2022;23(1):30. doi: 10.3892/ol.2021.13148
- Elsharawy KA, Mohammed OJ, Aleskandarany MA, et al. The nucleolar-related protein Dyskerin pseudouridine synthase 1 (DKC1) predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer.Br J Cancer. 2020;123(10):1543–1552.doi: 10.1038/s41416-020-01045-7
- Liu Y, Karlsson S. Perspectives of current understanding and therapeutics of Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Leukemia. 2024;38(1):1–9.doi: 10.1038/s41375-023-02082-w
- Da Costa L, Leblanc T, Mohandas N. Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Blood. 2020;136(11):1262–1273.doi: 10.1182/blood.2019000947
- Han X, Lu S, Gu C, et al. Clinical features, epidemiology, and treatment of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome: a systematic review. BMC Pediatr. 2023;23(1):503.doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-04324-3
- Sera Y, Yamamoto S, Mutou A, et al. SBDS Gene Mutation Increases ROS Production and Causes DNA Damage as Well as Oxidation of Mitochondrial Membranes in the Murine Myeloid Cell Line 32Dcl3. Biol Pharm Bull. 2024;47(7):1376–1382.doi: 10.1248/bpb.b24-00088
- Reilly CR, Shimamura A. Predisposition to myeloid malignancies in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome: biological insights and clinical advances. Blood. 2023;141(13):1513–1523.doi: 10.1182/blood.2022017739
- Catez F, Dalla Venezia N, Marcel V, et al. Ribosome biogenesis: An emerging druggable pathway for cancer therapeutics. Biochem Pharmacol. 2019;159:74–81.doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.11.014
Supplementary files

