Cancer is one of the most difficult diseases for human beings to overcome. Its development is closely related to a variety of factors, and its specific mechanisms have been a hot research topic in the field of scientific research. The
tropomyosin family (Tpm) is a group of
proteins closely related to the cytoskeleton and actin, and recent studies have shown that they play an important role in various
cancers, participating in a variety of
biological activities, including cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and have been used as
biomarkers for various
cancers. The purpose of this review is to explore the research progress of the Tpm family in
tumorigenesis development, focusing on the molecular pathways associated with them and their relevant activities involved in
tumors. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies on the role of Tpms in
tumorigenesis and development and the activities of Tpms involved in
tumors. Data from the literature suggest that the Tpm family is involved in
tumor cell proliferation and growth,
tumor cell invasion and migration,
tumor angiogenesis,
tumor cell apoptosis, and immune infiltration of the tumor microenvironment, among other correlations. It can be used as a potential
biomarker for early diagnosis, follow-up, and therapeutic response of some
tumors. The Tpm family is involved in
cancer in a close relationship with
miRNAs and LncRNAs. Tpms are involved in
tumor tissue invasion and migration as a key link. On this basis, TPM is frequently used as a
biomarker for various
cancers. However, the specific molecular mechanism of its involvement in
cancer progression has not been explained clearly, which remains an important direction for future research.