The WASP/WAVE Protein Family in Breast Cancer and Their Role in the Metastatic Cascade

Abstract

The Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and the WASP family verprolin-homologous protein (WAVE) family are essential molecules that connect GTPases to the actin cytoskeleton, thereby controlling actin polymerisation through the actin-related protein 2/3 complex. This control is crucial for forming actin-based membrane protrusions necessary for cell migration and invasion. The elevated expression of WASP/WAVE proteins in invasive breast cancer cells highlights their significant role in promoting cell motility and invasion. This review summarises the discovery, structural properties, and activation mechanisms of WASP/WAVE proteins, focuses on the contribution of the WASP/WAVE family to breast cancer invasion and migration, particularly synthesises the results of nearly a decade of research in this field since 2015. By exploring promising therapeutic strategies for breast cancer, including small molecule inhibitors and biological agents, this review stresses the potential for developing anticancer drugs that target the WASP/WAVE family and associated pathways, intending to improve the prognosis for patients with metastatic breast cancer.