Authors: Ajab Khan , Kuohai Fan , Hongquan Li

Abstract

Cancer is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality to human population that leads to almost 7.6 million deaths per year globally. Invasion and migration are the main characteristics in the all types of cancers. To combat this deadly disease, prophylaxis, quick diagnosis, researching novel molecular adjuvant therapeutics or the combination of all these strategies are strictly required. Fascin, a 55 kD globular protein is expressed in the metastatic tumors and not in the normal cells. Up-regulation of Fascin has been reported in more aggressive and advanced stage of metastatic cancers. It is an indicator of poor prognosis and late stage of carcinoma. Fascin has two important actin binding sites that help in the invasion and metastasis. New molecular research is focused to inhibit its binding activity by knockdown of Fascin using short hairpin RNA (shRNA), ectopic expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNA (siRNA), using small fascin inhibitors, monoubiquitination and use of antimicrobial peptides. Meta-analysis and systematic review will help a lot to develop new therapeutic strategies that can inhibit tumor cell invasion and even metastatic spread of various carcinomas

Keywords: Metastatic carcinoma, Fascin, Invasion, Metastasis, MicroRNAs, Biomarker.