Tetraspanin-31 (TSPAN31)

Tetraspanin-31 is a cell-surface transmembrane protein with four hydrophobic domains, belonging to the tetraspanin family, and is involved in numerous cellular processes such as signal transduction, proliferation, migration, and survival. It plays important roles in cancer biology, including osteosarcoma, gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, by promoting tumor growth, motility, and suppressing apoptosis. TSPAN31 is also implicated in regulating key signaling pathways (e.g., AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt), and its increased expression is associated with aggressive tumor behavior and poor patient outcomes[1][2][3][4]. No approved drugs specifically target TSPAN31 yet, but its biomarker potential and mechanistic relevance in cancer make it an attractive target for ongoing research.

Other names

TSPAN31SAS (Sarcoma-amplified sequence)Tspan-31Sarcoma-amplified sequenceTransmembrane 4 proteintspan-31

Inhibition of TSPAN31 or its gene silencing can suppress tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induce apoptosis, likely through disruption of signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt and the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin axis[2][3].