FSTL1 and cancer: However, controversial data have reported that FSTL1 is riched in astrocytic brain tumors with high expression (13) and enhances the metastasis of cancer cells via activating diverse signaling pathway in breast (integrin β3/Wnt) (14), esophageal (NFkB–BMP) (15), hepatocellular (TGF-β1) (16), gastric (AKT) (17), and colorectal cancers (FAK) (18).