癌症是导致人类死亡的主要原因之一，其复杂和动态的特性使得理解和治疗具有挑战性。哺乳动物不育20类激酶4（MST4或STK26）是一种丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶，在正常和肿瘤细胞中通过激活细胞内信号分子和通路参与细胞迁移和极性方面发挥关键作用。MST4通过调节下游信号通路包括细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK）和蛋白激酶B（AKT）通路参与肿瘤细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭、上皮间充质转化（EMT）、存活和癌症转移。此外，MST4与编程细胞死亡10（PDCD10）相互作用以促进肿瘤增殖和迁移。MST4磷酸化自噬相关蛋白酶4B（ATG4B）来介导自噬信号，促进肿瘤细胞存活和增殖，以及促进治疗耐药性的产生。综上所述，MST4作为一种癌基因，是一种值得进一步探索的有希望的治疗靶点。版权所有 © 2023 Elsevier B.V.出版。

Cancer is a leading cause of death in humans, with a complex and dynamic nature that makes it challenging to fully comprehend and treat. The Mammalian Sterile 20-Like Kinase 4 (MST4 or STK26) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase that plays a crucial role in cell migration and polarity in both normal and tumor cells via activation of intracellular signaling molecules and pathways. MST4 is involved in tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), survival, and cancer metastasis through modulation of downstream signaling pathways including the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (AKT) pathways. Additionally, MST4 interacts with programmed cell death 10 (PDCD10) to promote tumor proliferation and migration. MST4 phosphorylates autophagy related 4B cysteine peptidase (ATG4B) to mediate autophagy signaling, promote tumor cell survival and proliferation, and contribute to treatment resistance. Taken together, MST4 functions as an oncogene and is a promising therapeutic target which deserves further exploration.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.