CFTR and cancer: But for the great majority of cancer studies, loss of CFTR expression and/or activity is linked with cancer incidence, and in the majority of these reports, CFTR mutations or downregulation of CFTR expression in epithelial cancers is associated with rapid cancer growth, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a reduction in cellular apoptosis, enhanced metabolic potential, and elevated patient morbidity and mortality.