biostudies-literatureLin SPenn State Hershey Cancer InstituteNCI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthElsa U. Pardee Foundation1434-1446https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7854785biostudies-literatureUnknown288(5)Fascin is an F-actin-bundling protein that cross-links individual actin filaments into straight and stiff bundles. Fascin overexpression in cancer is strongly associated with poor prognosis and metastatic progression across different cancer types. It is well established that fascin plays a causative role in promoting metastatic progression. We will review the recent progress in our understanding of mechanisms underlying fascin-mediated cancer metastasis. This review will cover the biochemical basis for fascin-bundling activity, the mechanisms by which cancer cells upregulate fascin expression and the mechanism underlying fascin-mediated cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastatic colonization. We propose that fascin has broad roles in both metastatic dissemination and metastatic coloniThe FEBS journalHow does fascin promote cancer metastasis?PMC7854785R01 CA233844R01 CA 233844Taylor MDSingh PKLin SYang SfalseHow does fascin promote cancer metastasis?Fascin is an F-actin-bundling protein that cross-links individual actin filaments into straight and stiff bundles. Fascin overexpression in cancer is strongly associated with poor prognosis and metastatic progression across different cancer types. It is well established that fascin plays a causative role in promoting metastatic progression. We will review the recent progress in our understanding of mechanisms underlying fascin-mediated cancer metastasis. This review will cover the biochemical basis for fascin-bundling activity, the mechanisms by which cancer cells upregulate fascin expression and the mechanism underlying fascin-mediated cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastatic colonization. We propose that fascin has broad roles in both metastatic dissemination and metastatic coloni2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Mar2025-04-18T12:09:33.956Z2025-04-06T21:48:17.388ZS-EPMC78547853265752610.1111/febs.15484