Tissue factor (TF) (TF)

Tissue factor (TF), also known as coagulation factor III or CD142, is a 47-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as the primary initiator of the extrinsic coagulation cascade (UniProt P13726). While its physiological role is to maintain hemostasis by binding to Factor VII/VIIa upon vascular injury, TF is aberrantly overexpressed in a wide variety of solid tumors, including cervical, pancreatic, and lung cancers (PubMed: 31434118). In the tumor microenvironment, TF promotes oncogenic signaling, angiogenesis, and metastasis, often through the activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs), particularly PAR-2 (PubMed: 29461216). Because of its high expression on tumor cells compared to limited expression in healthy tissues, TF has become a prominent target for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) like tisotumab vedotin (FDA: 2021). These therapies leverage the internalizing properties of TF to deliver potent cytotoxic agents directly into malignant cells, thereby minimizing systemic toxicity while maximizing anti-tumor efficacy (PubMed: 33561328).

Other names

Coagulation factor IIIThromboplastinCD142F3

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) bind to TF on the cell surface, leading to internalization and release of cytotoxic payloads; other approaches include blocking TF/FVIIa signaling or inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) (PubMed: 33561328).