Open AccessThe role of fibroblast activation protein in health and malignancy
Author(s) -
Allison A. Fitzgerald,
Louis M. Weiner
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer and metastasis reviews/cancer metastasis reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.555
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1573-7233
pISSN - 0167-7659
DOI - 10.1007/s10555-020-09909-3
Subject(s) - fibroblast activation protein, alpha , angiogenesis , malignancy , medicine , cancer research , pathological , serine protease , extracellular matrix , cancer , disease , immunosuppression , fibroblast , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , fibrosis , immunology , bioinformatics , biology , protease , metastasis , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , in vitro , enzyme
Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) is a type-II transmembrane serine protease expressed almost exclusively to pathological conditions including fibrosis, arthritis, and cancer. Across most cancer types, elevated FAP is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Despite the clear association between FAP and disease severity, the biological reasons underlying these clinical observations remain unclear. Here we review basic FAP biology and FAP's role in non-oncologic and oncologic disease. We further explore how FAP may worsen clinical outcomes via its effects on extracellular matrix remodeling, intracellular signaling regulation, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and immunosuppression. Lastly, we discuss the potential to exploit FAP biology to improve clinical outcomes.