Objective
To have more insight into roles of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) in digestive tumor.
Method
The basic and clinical studies on the GDF15 in the digestive tumors published were searched in the databases for summarizing the latest advances on this issue.
Results
The GDF15, a novel member of transforming growth factor-β superfamily, played the diverse roles in the progress of the various diseases. The increasing number of evidence indicated that the GDF15 was associated with the diagnosis and prognostication of the digestive tumors, eg: colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and might serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the multiple digestive tumors.
Conclusions
Current basic and clinical studies provide some evidences that GDF15 plays a role in digestive tumors. Further studies are needed to elucidate its roles and molecular mechanisms in different stages of diseases.
