Olfactomedin 4 in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics
Summary
Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) is a secreted glycoprotein of the olfactomedin family that exerts diverse functions in tumour biology. Initially characterised as an anti-apoptotic factor, OLFM4 displays context-dependent roles across cancer types. In gastrointestinal malignancies it is frequently up-regulated and can confer resistance to oxidative stress and cytotoxic agents by modulating caspase activation. In other settings, loss of OLFM4 promotes tumour cell migration and invasiveness through pro-inflammatory signalling axes. Beyond its intracellular effects, OLFM4 interacts with components of key developmental pathways—such as the hedgehog cascade—to influence tumour initiation and progression. Clinically, aberrant OLFM4 expression has emerged as a prognostic biomarker in gastric, pancreatic, hepatic and oesophageal cancers, and as a predictor of chemoresistance. The secreted nature of the protein renders it amenable to liquid-biopsy approaches, while its multifaceted role in cell survival, migration and immune modulation positions OLFM4 as an attractive target for novel therapeutic strategies.
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Olfactomedin 4 in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in olfactomedin 4 in cancer biology and therapeutics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4): A secreted glycoprotein that modulates cell adhesion, survival and inflammation in various cancers.
Apoptosis: Programmed cell death involving caspase activation, crucial for removal of damaged or unwanted cells.
Chemoresistance: The capacity of tumour cells to withstand cytotoxic drugs, often via altered drug metabolism or survival signalling.
Biomarker: A measurable molecule that indicates a biological state or disease progression and guides diagnosis or treatment.
NF-κB pathway: A signalling cascade that controls genes involved in inflammation, cell proliferation and survival, often hijacked in cancer.
References
- Depletion of OLFM4 gene inhibits cell growth and increases sensitization to hydrogen peroxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced-apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. Journal of Biomedical Science (2012).
- Loss of OLFM4 promotes tumor migration through inducing interleukin-8 expression and predicts lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer. Oncogenesis (2016).
- Olfactomedin 4 deficiency promotes prostate neoplastic progression and is associated with upregulation of the hedgehog-signaling pathway. Scientific Reports (2015).
- High expression of olfactomedin-4 is correlated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer. PLOS ONE (2020).
- Olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4) expression is associated with nodal metastases in esophageal adenocarcinoma. PLOS ONE (2019).
- Plasma levels of OLFM4 in normals and patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2015).
- Olfm4 Is Highly Expressed in HCC Patients and as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for HCC. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2021).
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