Current status and prospects of GREM1 research in cancer (Review)

Zhu,Dantong; Zhao,Dong; Wang,Naixue; Cai,Fei; Jiang,Mingzhe; Zheng,Zhendong

doi:10.3892/mco.2023.2665

Current status and prospects of GREM1 research in cancer (Review)

Authors:
- Dantong Zhu
- Dong Zhao
- Naixue Wang
- Fei Cai
- Mingzhe Jiang
- Zhendong Zheng
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Affiliations: Department of Medical Oncology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, Liaoning 110000, P.R. China, Department of Medical Oncology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, Liaoning 110000, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Jinzhou Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 121017, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110000, P.R. China
Published online on: July 19, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2023.2665
Article Number: 69
Copyright: © Zhu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

GREM1 is a secreted protein that antagonizes bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and participates in critical biological processes, including embryonic development, organogenesis and tissue differentiation. Gremlin 1 (GREM1) is also an inhibitor of TGF‑β and a ligand for vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. In addition, GREM1 can induce cells, participate in the process of epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, and then participate in tumor development. GREM1 has a variety of biological functions and can participate in the malignant progression of a variety of tumors through the BMP signaling pathway. GREM1 also can inhibit TGF‑β in some tumors, thereby inhibiting tumors, and its involvement in tumor development varies in different types of cancer. The present review examines the role and function of GREM1 in tumors. GREM1 is expressed in a variety of tumor types. GREM1 expression can affect the epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation of tumor cells. GREM1 has been studied in breast and colon cancer, and its potential role is to promote cancer. However, in pancreatic cancer, which was found to act differently from other cancer types, overexpression of GREM1 inhibits tumor metastasis. The present review suggests that GREM1 can be a diagnostic and prognostic indicator. In future studies, the study of GREM1 based on single‑cell sequencing technology will further clarify its role and function in tumors.

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