Published online Mar 15, 2016. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i3.282
Peer-review started: September 8, 2015
First decision: October 16, 2015
Revised: October 21, 2015
Accepted: December 18, 2015
Article in press: December 21, 2015
Published online: March 15, 2016
Processing time: 184 Days and 11.9 Hours
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a glycoprotein with 1480 amino acids, has been well established as a chloride channel mainly expressed in the epithelial cells of various tissues and organs such as lungs, sweat glands, gastrointestinal system, and reproductive organs. Although defective CFTR leads to cystic fibrosis, a common genetic disorder in the Caucasian population, there is accumulating evidence that suggests a novel role of CFTR in various cancers, especially in gastroenterological cancers, such as pancreatic cancer and colon cancer. In this review, we summarize the emerging findings that link CFTR with various cancers, with focus on the association between CFTR defects and gastrointestinal cancers as well as the underlying mechanisms. Further study of CFTR in cancer biology may help pave a new way for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.
Core tip: The present review aimed to analyze most published data regarding the emerging role of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), an epithelial chloride channel in many tissues and organs, in various cancers, with the focus on the link between CFTR dysfunction and gastrointestinal cancers. The possible underlying mechanisms have also been discussed.