The dual specificity role of transcription factor FOXO in type 2-diabetes and cancer.

The FOXO (Forkhead box O) transcription factors are implicated in several signaling pathways and play a vital role in various cellular and physiological processes include, for instance, ROS (reactive oxygen species) response, cell proliferation, regulation of programmed cell death, longevity, metabolism and cancer and regulation of cell cycle. In humans, four FOXO members resemble similar structure and are known for their role in both regulation and functions. FOXO1 gene is highly expressed in adipose tissues and it affects the regulation of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis through insulin signaling. The FOXO3 gene is highly expressed in the kidney, heart, spleen, and brain and is characterized as diverse forkhead DNA-binding domain of transcription factors. The FOXO3 is a tumor suppressor gene and found to interact with p53, the trigger for apoptosis through BCl2 family genes and a regulator of Notch signaling pathway for the self-renewal of stem cells. Therefore, FOXOs remains to be a fascinating and potential target to acquire novel therapeutic approaches to cure cancer. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the biology of FOXO proteins, which can be utilized for developing current therapeutic approaches to treat cancer.