Nuclear factor of activated T cells as a driver of tumor progression and a target for precision therapy

Author First name, Last name, Institution

• Hira Khan, United Arab Emirates University
• Khushbakhat Alia, United Arab Emirates University
• Yusra Al Dhaheri, United Arab Emirates University
• Muhammad Naseem, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi CampusFollow
• Rabah Iratni, United Arab Emirates University
• Edgar Serfling, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Khalid Muhammad, United Arab Emirates University

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Animal Models and Experimental Medicine

Publication Date

7-1-2026

Abstract

The Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells (NFAT) family comprises closely related transcription factors. Numerous biological processes including angiogenesis, invasion, migration, proliferation, and cell survival are regulated by the NFAT family. NFATs are overexpressed and have increased transcriptional activity in a variety of human solid tumors and hematological cancers. Beyond tumor cell-intrinsic roles, NFAT has also emerged as an important regulator of the tumor microenvironment (TME), where it can influence immune cell behavior and contribute to mechanisms of immune evasion. The discovery of the multifaceted functions of NFATs has driven the need to further unveil their role in cancer and provide new insights into other potential roles. This review provides a comprehensive narrative synthesis of current molecular and clinical studies, with particular emphasis on how NFAT shapes tumor immune interactions and modulates the TME. By integrating findings across different cancer types, we highlight how NFAT may contribute to both tumor progression and immune regulation. The review concludes by highlighting significant knowledge gaps and recommending future paths for translational and therapeutic research to leverage NFAT signaling as a potential target in precision cancer therapy.

DOI Link

10.1002/ame2.70251

ISSN

2096-5451

Publisher

Wiley

Volume

9

Issue

7

First Page

1338

Last Page

1352

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

cancer progression, immune evasion, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), precision cancer therapy, tumor microenvironment (TME)

Scopus ID

105043744856

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Khan, Hira; Alia, Khushbakhat; Al Dhaheri, Yusra; Naseem, Muhammad; Iratni, Rabah; Serfling, Edgar; and Muhammad, Khalid, "Nuclear factor of activated T cells as a driver of tumor progression and a target for precision therapy" (2026). All Works. 8000.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/8000

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series