ReviewBiomolecules & biomedicine2025
Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) in cancer - Dual roles in tumorigenesis and therapeutic potential: A review.
Review in Biomolecules & biomedicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Janus Face of sFRP4 in Cancer: From Mechanistic Complexity to Therapeutic Potential.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Single-cell RNA sequencing of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast reveals cellular heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment features.BMC medical genomics · 2026Article
- Plasma sFRP4 Levels and Their Relationship with HOMA IR in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 4 (sFRP4), the largest member of the Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein (sFRP) family, contains two functional domains: a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) homologous to the Wnt-binding region of Frizzled (FZD) receptors and a netrin-like (NTR) domain structurally similar to axonal guidance proteins. By modulating the Wingless/Integrated (Wnt) signaling pathway, sFRP4 regulates essential cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tissue homeostasis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the dualistic roles of sFRP4 in cancer, highlighting its tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting functions, underlying molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic potential. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases (1996-2025) using predefined keywords, and from 277 identified publications, 47 studies were included that comprised clinical data, in vitro cell models, and in vivo experimental systems. Findings demonstrate that sFRP4 frequently acts as a tumor suppressor by sequestering Wnt ligands, suppressing cancer stem cell-like properties, reprogramming tumor metabolism, inhibiting angiogenesis, and enhancing chemosensitivity. Its downregulation is often driven by promoter hypermethylation or repression mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). Conversely, in gastrointestinal and prostate cancers, sFRP4 is frequently upregulated, where it promotes Wnt pathway activation, invasion, stemness, chemoresistance, and reshaping of the tumor immune microenvironment. Mechanistic insights indicate that post-translational modifications and nuclear localization of sFRP4 further contribute to its paradoxical context-dependent functions. In conclusion, sFRP4 exerts dual roles in tumorigenesis, acting either as a tumor suppressor or promoter depending on tissue type, tumor microenvironment, and regulatory mechanisms. This complexity underscores both the challenges and opportunities of targeting sFRP4 in oncology, and future therapeutic strategies incorporating recombinant proteins, synthetic peptides, and nanoparticle-based delivery systems hold promise for harnessing its anti-tumor potential while overcoming resistance mechanisms.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.