Improving fascin inhibitors to block tumor cell migration and metastasis

Tumor metastasis is the major cause of mortality of cancer patients, being responsible for ∼90% of all cancer deaths. One of the key steps during tumor metastasis is tumor cell migration which requires actin cytoskeletal reorganization. Among the critical actin cytoskeletal protrusion structures are antenna-like filopodia. Fascin protein is the main actin-bundling protein in filopodia. Here we report the development of fascin-specific small-molecules that inhibit the interaction between fascin and actin.

Source: Molecular Oncology - March 31, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Shaoqin Han, Jianyun Huang, Bingqian Liu, Bowen Xing, Francois Bordeleau, Cynthia A. Reinhart-King, Wenxin Li, J.  Jillian Zhang, Xin-Yun Huang Source Type: research