Cytoskeletal Protein Linked to Cervical Cancer Growth Paves Way for Precise Diagnostic Tools

Despite improvements in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, outcomes for advanced or metastatic disease remain poor. Researchers have now identified a protein that drives cancer spread and drug resistance, offering a potential path toward more precise diagnostic tools and improved treatment.

A study by researchers at The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang (Hebei, China) has revealed that Fascin-1, a cytoskeletal protein, is a major contributor to tumor progression. Normally expressed at low levels in healthy cervical tissue, Fascin-1 was found to be significantly elevated in cancer samples and strongly linked with worse survival. This positions the protein as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target for aggressive disease.

Through tissue analysis, cell-based experiments, and mouse models, the researchers demonstrated that Fascin-1 enhances tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion. Mechanistic studies showed that it activates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, a well-known driver of cancer progression. Silencing Fascin-1 reduced tumor growth and spread while making cancer cells more responsive to cisplatin chemotherapy.

The study, published in Biomolecules and Biomedicine, suggests Fascin-1 could serve as a precise biomarker for aggressive cervical cancer and a therapeutic target to improve existing treatments. Inhibiting this protein may slow progression while enhancing chemotherapy effectiveness. Although specific inhibitors are not yet in clinical use, one candidate, NP-G2-044/DC05F01, is already in phase II trials for solid tumors, highlighting its potential applicability in cervical cancer care.