Role of FoxM1 in the Progression and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of Gastrointestinal Cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, characterized by its leading mortality, is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The underlying mechanisms contributing to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis of GI cancer are poorly understood. It is well known that a great number of transcription factors including FoxM1, KLF4, STAT3 and so forth, are associated with the process of EMT and have also been strongly implicated in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GI cancer cells. Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1), a transcription factor of the Forkhead family, is strongly positive in GI cancers and can be regarded as an oncogene in GI cancers. A number of studies have reported that FoxM1 is involved in tumorigenesis and promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, EMT and metastasis by targeting downstream genes. In this review, we will focus on highlighting the functions of FoxM1 in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis of GI cancers, pointing out the roles of FoxM1 in GI cancer EMT through crosstalk with TGFβ, Wnt signaling pathways and ncRNA, to better understand the role of FoxM1 in GI cancer, and will discuss recent relevant patents concerning FoxM1 in tumor therapy.