FSCN1 acts as a promising therapeutic target in the blockade of tumor cell motility: a review of its function, mechanism, and clinical significance

Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) is an actin-bundling protein that is capable of inducing membrane protrusions and plays critical roles in cell migration, motility, adhesion, and other cellular interactions. FSCN1 also plays a role in forming and stabilizing filopodia or microspikes, which assist during cell migration. Furthermore, FSCN1 is a downstream target of several microRNAs and participates in various biological processes, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and autophagy, which regulate the invasion and migration ability of cells in various cancers. Increased FSCN1 levels have been associated with enhanced migration and invasion of multiple cancers as well as poor patient prognosis. Promising results from in vitro experimental studies using docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breast cancer and recombinant porcine NK-lysin A in hepatocellular carcinoma have revealed that anticancer drugs targeting FSCN1 have significant potential clinical applications. This review discusses FSCN1 in terms of five aspects: structure and function, biological processes, regulatory mechanisms, clinical applications, and future prospects.