Follistatin is a single-chain glycosylated protein whose primary function consists in binding and neutralizing some members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily such as activin and bone morphogenic proteins.
Emerging evidence indicates that this molecule may also play a role in the malignant progression of several human tumors including prostate cancer. In particular, recent findings suggest that, in this tumor, follistatin may also contribute to the formation of bone metastasis through multiple mechanisms, some of which are not related to its specific activin or bone morphogenic proteins' inhibitory activity. This review provides insight into the most recent advances in understanding the role of follistatin in the prostate cancer progression and discusses the clinical and therapeutic implications related to these findings.
Written by:
Sepporta MV, Tumminello FM, Flandina C, Crescimanno M, Giammanco M, La Guardia M, di Majo D, Leto G. Are you the author?
Operative Unit of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Palermo, via Augusto Elia, 3, 90127, Palermo, Italy.
Reference: Target Oncol. 2013 Mar 1. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s11523-013-0268-7
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23456439
UroToday.com Investigative Urology Section
