Abstract: Based on the structural and biological characteristics of the FAM83 protein family, this paper reviewed the regulatory factors, such as MicroRNA and protein posttranslational modification, for FAM83 proteins dysregulated expression and the functional activity in tumor cells and their potential mechanisms for tumorigenicity (MAPK, Wnt and TGF-β signaling pathways), as well as their application in cancer diagnosis and clinical treatment (molecular marker diagnosis and tumor drug resistance). The FAM83 genes were found to be up-regulated in various tumor cells and associated with cellular biological processes such as proliferation, migration, invasion, transformation and drug resistance. Finally, the prospects and challenges of the FAM83 protein in tumor therapy were discussed. In the future, the unique functions of each FAM83 protein will be explored to provide theoretical basis for future novel targets of the FAM83 protein family for cancer treatment.

Key words: FAM83, abnormal expression, signal pathway, tumor cells, therapeutic target