The role of the ABI1 protein in gastrointestinal tumours. The literature review

Abstract

Cancer is a disease that occurs as a result of the collapse of the mechanisms that control normal cell growth and differentiation. The process of metastasis is closely related to impaired actin polymerization. One of the most important factors that regulate actin polymerization is multiprotein WAVE complex, which includes, among others, Interactor Ablprotein (ABI1). Understanding the role of the ABI1 should help to define mechanisms for coordinated actin polymerization and cellular proliferation, which are dysregulated in cancer cells. The dual role of AbI1 function is observed inhuman cancer. Increased ABI1 is linked to enhanced oncogenesis in invasive breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia and Ph positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia and to tumour suppression in gastricand prostate cancers. Analysis of the studies results of tissue samples of patients after gastrectomy for cancer showed a strong correlation between the expression of ABI1 protein and the degree of differentiation of the tumour, the advancement of the cancer and the number of positive lymph nodes. It has to be pointed out that overexpression of ABI1 is not restricted to carcinogenesis, but can also be observed in inflammation and in very early lesions that do not progress to cancer such as hyperplastic polyps. Further studies of ABI1 expression on RNA and protein level will enable an assessment of its prognostic value and explain if ABI1 can be a target for therapeutic intervention.