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The Reign of Follistatin in Tumors and Their Microenvironment: Implications for Drug Resistance

Jennifer Sosa1, Akinsola Oyelakin2,3, Satrajit Sinha1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.

Biology
|February 23, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Follistatin (FST) neutralizes TGF-β superfamily members and impacts cancer hallmarks. This review explores FST

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Follistatin (FST) neutralizes TGF-β superfamily ligands, influencing cellular processes.
  • Aberrant FST expression is observed in solid tumors, but its precise role in tumor progression and therapy response is not fully understood.
  • Tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment complexity are increasingly illuminated by omics data, offering precision medicine avenues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent FST-centric studies.
  • To provide an updated perspective on the role of FST isoforms in tumor ecosystems.
  • To discuss FST's influence on drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent FST-centric studies.
  • Analysis of omics data insights.
  • Discussion of FST's impact on cancer hallmarks and drug resistance.

Main Results:

  • FST is implicated in cancer hallmarks including proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and immune evasion.
  • Omics data reveal new insights into tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment.
  • FST isoforms play a complex role in shaping tumor ecosystems.

Conclusions:

  • Follistatin (FST) has a multifaceted role in cancer progression and drug resistance.
  • Understanding FST's isoforms is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.
  • Precision medicine approaches leveraging FST knowledge offer new opportunities to combat cancer.
Keywords:
cancer hallmarkschemoresistancefollistatinsquamous cell carcinomatransforming growth factor-beta pathwaytumor heterogeneitytumor microenvironment

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