Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41532367›Full record

ReviewCancer medicine2026

Krüppel-Like Factor 4, a Hub Gate for Cell Crosstalk in Tumor Microenvironment.

Min Tang, Binle Tian, Jingyi Zhou, Di Ma, Rongze Sun, Qi Li

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Cancer medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Min TangDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0156-7367
Binle TianDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jingyi ZhouDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4125-0116
Di MaDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Rongze SunDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Qi LiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82073214National Natural Science Foundation of China 82473306
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveKrüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc finger transcription factor that plays context-dependent roles in cancer. It functions as either a tumor suppressor or an oncogene depending on tumor type and cellular context. This review aimed to comprehensively summarize the roles of KLF4 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target.

methodsWe conducted a comprehensive literature review to elucidate the expression patterns, regulatory mechanisms, and functional roles of KLF4 across different TME components, including cancer cells, immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, pericytes, and extracellular matrix.

resultsKLF4 exhibits dual roles in cancer cells, acting as a tumor suppressor in gastric, lung, and pancreatic cancers while promoting oncogenesis in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers. In the TME, KLF4 regulates macrophage polarization (M1/M2), T-cell exhaustion, NK cell activity, and MDSC recruitment. Additionally, KLF4 modulates CAF activation and ECM remodeling. KLF4 expression is regulated by miRNAs, lncRNAs, and epigenetic modifications. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting KLF4, such as APTO-253, show promise in preclinical and early clinical trials.

conclusionsKLF4 serves as a hub gate orchestrating cell crosstalk within the TME. Understanding its context-dependent functions may facilitate the development of KLF4-targeted therapies for precision oncology.

Indexed as

Kruppel-Like Transcription FactorsNeoplasmsTumor MicroenvironmentAnimalsGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansKruppel-Like Factor 4KLF4 protein, humanKruppel-Like Factor 4Kruppel-Like Transcription Factorscancerimmune cellsKLF4tumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41532367
PMCPMC12800926

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.