Using human HCC tissues and cell lines HLE, Hep3B, and Huh7, we investigated whether fascin-1 is involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increases invasiveness, thus serving as a promoter of cancer aggressiveness.
Studies are now underway to better understand the precise regulation of this protein in the context of tumour progression and to investigate fascin as a potential therapeutic target for a number of forms of cancer.
In conclusion, highly increased fascin levels were observed in MDA-MB-435 over-expressing c-erbB-2, likely contributing to these cells' altered actin dynamics, and increased cell motility and malignancy.