Cervical cancer remains one of the most common malignancies in women, ranking as the fourth most prevalent cancer worldwide. Most cases are caused by high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV16 and HPV18.
Despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, outcomes for women with advanced or metastatic disease remain poor. These limitations highlight the urgent need for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets that can improve treatment effectiveness and patient survival.
A new study by researchers at The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang has identified Fascin-1, a cytoskeletal protein, as a critical driver of cervical cancer growth, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy.
While normally expressed at low levels in healthy cervical tissue, Fascin-1 was found to be significantly elevated in cervical cancer samples and strongly associated with worse survival outcomes.
The findings are published in the journal Biomolecules and Biomedicine.
Mapping Fascin-1’s role in tumor biology
Using patient tissue analysis, cell-based experiments, and mouse models, the researchers showed that Fascin-1 enhances tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
Mechanistic studies revealed that it activates the Wnt/?-catenin signaling pathway, a well-known driver of cancer progression. Importantly, silencing Fascin-1 reduced tumor growth and spread, while also making cancer cells more sensitive to the chemotherapy drug cisplatin.
These findings point to Fascin-1 as both a biomarker of aggressive disease and a potential therapeutic target. Inhibiting Fascin-1 could not only slow cancer progression but also enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments.
Although specific Fascin-1 inhibitors are not yet in clinical use, one candidate (NP-G2-044/DC05F01) is currently being tested in phase II trials for solid tumors, raising the possibility of future applications in cervical cancer.
By linking Fascin-1 to tumor growth, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance, this study provides new insights into the molecular drivers of cervical cancer.
Further research may open the way to more precise diagnostic tools and improved treatment strategies, addressing a critical need for women with advanced disease.
More information:
Yan Wang et al, Role of Fascin-1 in cervical cancer metastasis via Wnt/?-catenin pathway activation, Biomolecules and Biomedicine (2025). DOI: 10.17305/bb.2025.12114
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