Periostin within the tumor microenvironment: molecular insights and immunomodulatory roles in cancer
Abstract
Periostin, also known as osteoblast-specific factor 2 (OSF-2), is a secreted matricellular protein with pleiotropic functions in both physiological and pathological processes. While it contributes to tissue repair, bone remodeling, and cardiovascular and respiratory homeostasis, accumulating evidence highlights its critical role in cancer progression. In diverse malignancies—including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, hepatocellular, ovarian, lung, breast carcinomas, and glioma—periostin is frequently overexpressed in both the stromal and epithelial compartments. Its regulation is consistently correlated with increased tumor invasiveness, advanced clinical stage, poor prognosis, and shortened patient survival. Mechanistically, periostin promotes tumor progression through multiple interconnected pathways, including the activation of NF-κB and AKT signaling, induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, stimulation of angiogenesis, and maintenance of cancer stemness. Within the tumor microenvironment, periostin-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts drive extracellular matrix remodeling, establish an immunosuppressive niche, and impede CD8+ T-cell infiltration, thereby attenuating antitumor immunity and limiting responses to immunotherapy. This review systematically summarizes the structure, expression, and multifaceted functions of periostin, with a particular focus on its immunomodulatory actions within the tumor microenvironment, and discusses its emerging potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy.
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BibTeX
@article{zhao2026periostin,
title = {{Periostin within the tumor microenvironment: molecular insights and immunomodulatory roles in cancer}},
author = {Yongxin Zhao and Yan Yu and Shuangda Li and Lijuan Xu and Weizhi Chen and Jing Lv},
journal = {Frontiers in Immunology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1869363},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1869363},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Periostin within the tumor microenvironment: molecular insights and immunomodulatory roles in cancer
AU - Yongxin Zhao
AU - Yan Yu
AU - Shuangda Li
AU - Lijuan Xu
AU - Weizhi Chen
AU - Jing Lv
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Frontiers in Immunology
DO - 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1869363
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1869363
AB - Periostin, also known as osteoblast-specific factor 2 (OSF-2), is a secreted matricellular protein with pleiotropic functions in both physiological and pathological processes. While it contributes to tissue repair, bone remodeling, and cardiovascular and respiratory homeostasis, accumulating evidence highlights its critical role in cancer progression. In diverse malignancies—including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, hepatocellular, ovarian, lung, breast carcinomas, and glioma—periostin is frequently overexpressed in both the stromal and epithelial compartments. Its regulation is consistently correlated with increased tumor invasiveness, advanced clinical stage, poor prognosis, and shortened patient survival. Mechanistically, periostin promotes tumor progression through multiple interconnected pathways, including the activation of NF-κB and AKT signaling, induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, stimulation of angiogenesis, and maintenance of cancer stemness. Within the tumor microenvironment, periostin-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts drive extracellular matrix remodeling, establish an immunosuppressive niche, and impede CD8+ T-cell infiltration, thereby attenuating antitumor immunity and limiting responses to immunotherapy. This review systematically summarizes the structure, expression, and multifaceted functions of periostin, with a particular focus on its immunomodulatory actions within the tumor microenvironment, and discusses its emerging potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy.
SN - 1664-3224
ER -