Fascin 1 promoted the growth and migration of non-small cell lung cancer cells by activating YAP/TEAD signaling

Fascin 1 (Fascin actin-bundling protein 1) is an actin-binding protein. Although several studies have reported the dysregulation of Fascin 1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its functions in the progression of NSCLC and the related molecular mechanism were not fully understood. In this study, the expression of Fascin 1 in NSCLC tissues was determined using quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the roles of Fascin 1 in the progression of NSCLC were investigated. It was found that both the messenger RNA (mRNA) level and the protein level of Fascin 1 were upregulated in NSCLC tissues. Forced expression of Fascin 1 promoted the growth and migration of NSCLC cells, while knocking down the expression of Fascin 1 inhibited the growth, migration, and tumorigenesis of NSCLC cells. Mechanism studies showed that Fascin 1 increased the transcriptional activity of the YAP/TEAD (Yes-associated protein/TEA domain transcriptional factor) complex, and knocking down the expression of Fascin 1 attenuated the expression of target genes downstream the YAP/TEAD complex. In addition, MST1 interacted with Fascin 1. Taken together, Fascin 1 plays an oncogenic role in NSCLC by activating the transcriptional activity of the YAP/TEAD complex.