Odyssey of trefoil factors in cancer: Diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Abstract

Trefoil factors 1, 2, and 3 (TFFs) are a family of small secretory molecules involved in the protection and repair of the gastrointestinal tract (GI). TFFs maintain and restore epithelial structural integrity via transducing key signaling pathways for epithelial cell migration, proliferation, and invasion. In recent years, TFFs have emerged as key players in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, especially cancer. Initially recognized as tumor suppressors, emerging evidence demonstrates their key role in tumor progression and metastasis, extending their actions beyond protection. However, to date, a comprehensive understanding of TFFs' mechanism of action in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis remains obscure. The present review discusses the structural, functional and mechanistic implications of all three TFF family members in tumor progression and metastasis. Also, we have garnered information from studies on their structure and expression status in different organs, along with lessons from their specific knockout in mouse models. In addition, we highlight the emerging potential of using TFFs as a biomarker to stratify tumors for better therapeutic intervention.

• Authors: Rahat Jahan, Ashu Shah, Sophia G Kisling, Muzafar A Macha, Sarah Thayer, Surinder K Batra, Sukhwinder Kaur
• Journal: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer (Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer) Vol. 1873 Issue 2 Pg. 188362 (04 2020) ISSN: 1879-2561 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 32298747 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Oncogene Proteins
• Trefoil Factors
• Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic (drug effects, pathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Disease-Free Survival
• Epigenesis, Genetic (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Humans
• Mice
• Mucous Membrane (metabolism)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, mortality, pathology)
• Oncogene Proteins (analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Prognosis
• Protein Domains
• Trefoil Factors (agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Tumor Suppressor Proteins (agonists, analysis, metabolism)