Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily, has been postulated to be implicated in cancer cell metastasis although its role has not been fully elucidated yet. The purpose of this review is to clarify the role of GDF-15 in cancer cell metastasis based on current advances in the field. The studies were divided into those involving evaluation of GDF15 expression in the serum or tissue of cancer patients, and those involving in vitro experiments in cancer cell lines or in vivo experiments in animal models. GDF15 was shown to be elevated in the serum or tissues of cancer patients with its expression being correlated with decreased survival. Moreover, most in vitro and in vivo studies also corroborated a metastasis-promoting role for GDF15. However, there were a few studies, where GDF15 was shown to suppress the metastatic properties of cells. As, GDF15 has been known for its pleiotropic effects, it is not surprising to behave differently in different types of cancer. Thus, GDF15 has the potential of not only being a useful metastasis biomarker, but also a promising therapeutic target against cancer cell metastasis in many cancer types.
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Abbreviations
- AFP:
-
Alpha fetoprotein
- ESCC:
-
Esophageal carcinomas
- ERK:
-
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase
- CA19-9:
-
Carbohydrate antigen 19 − 9
- CAF:
-
Cancer associated fibroblasts
- CDK:
-
Cyclin-dependent kinase
- CEA:
-
Carcinoembryonic antigen
- CRC:
-
Colorectal cancer
- CREB-1:
-
CAMP Responsive Element Binding Protein
- CSF:
-
Cerebrospinal fluid
- EGR-1:
-
Early Growth Response − 1
- EMT:
-
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition
- ER:
-
Estrogen receptor
- ESCC:
-
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- FAK:
-
Focal adhesion kinase
- GBM:
-
Glioblastoma multiform
- GDF-15:
-
Growth Differentiation Factor-15
- GDNF:
-
Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor
- GFRAL:
-
GDNF Family Receptor Alpha Like receptor
- HCC:
-
Hepatocellular carcinoma
- ICTP:
-
Cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP)
- IL-6:
-
Interleukin-6
- LC:
-
Liver cirrhosis
- TGF-β:
-
Transforming Growth Factor-β
- PARVA:
-
Alpha-parvin
- PDF:
-
Prostate Derived Factor
- PD-L1:
-
Programmed death-ligand-1
- PINP:
-
Amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP).
- PR:
-
Progesterone receptor
- PSA:
-
Prostate-specific antigen
- ROCK-1:
-
Rho-associated protein kinase-1
- RSU-1:
-
Ras suppressor-1
- MIC-1:
-
Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1
- MMP-13:
-
matrix metalloproteinase-13
- NAG-1:
-
Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug – activated gene
- PINCH-1:
-
Particularly Interesting New Cystein Histidine protein-1
- PLAB:
-
Placental bone morphogenetic protein
- PTGFB:
-
Placental Transforming Growth Factor Beta
- RSU-1:
-
Ras suppressor-1
- SCC:
-
Squamous Cell Carcinoma antigen
- TRAMP:
-
Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate
- OSCC:
-
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- YAP:
-
Yes associated protein
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Spanopoulou, A., Gkretsi, V. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in cancer cell metastasis: from the cells to the patients. Clin Exp Metastasis 37, 451–464 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-020-10041-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-020-10041-3