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MINI-REVIEW

Insights into Cripto-1 as a target for cancer diagnosis and treatment: A mini-review

Zhengkun Gao1 ,  Qian Li2 ,  Ran Zheng2 ,  Jing Si3,4 ,  Bing Wang5* ,  Lu Gan3,4*
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1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Gansu, China
2 Department (Hospital) of Stomatology, Lanzhou University, Gansu, China
3 Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Gansu, China
4 College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
5 Department of Radiation Effects Research, Institute for Radiological Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Chiba, Japan
ARNM, 025130015 https://doi.org/10.36922/ARNM025130015
Received: 26 March 2025 | Revised: 19 May 2025 | Accepted: 5 June 2025 | Published online: 26 June 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Cripto-1, a glycoprotein and key member of the epidermal growth factor-Cripto-1-FRL-1-Cryptic family, has garnered significant attention in cancer research due to its dual roles in embryonic development and tumor progression. The central role of Cripto-1 in regulating signaling pathways that govern cell behavior positions it as a promising target for enhancing diagnostic precision and therapeutic efficacy in cancer management. This mini-review explores the role of Cripto-1 in cancer biology, focusing on its involvement in key oncogenic pathways such as cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cripto-1 supports CSC self-renewal and contributes to treatment resistance. The review also examines recent advances in Cripto-1-targeted therapy, including monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and early-phase clinical trials, highlighting their therapeutic efficacy and safety profile. By synthesizing these findings, this review offers a comprehensive understanding of Cripto-1’s clinical relevance and provides new insights into its potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes in cancer management.

Keywords
Cripto-1
Cancer
Diagnostic biomarker
Treatment target
Cancer stem cells
Funding
This work was supported by the Science and Technology Plan Project of Chengguan District (2022SHFZ0020) and the Key Laboratory of Environmental Ecology and Population Health in Northwest Minority Areas (MWZD202201).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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