The pS2/TFF1 trefoil factor, from basic research to clinical applications.

pS2/TFF1 trefoil factor is normally expressed in the stomach, and is found ectopically in gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders and in various carcinomas. It is involved in stomach ontogenesis and in the maintenance of the integrity of the mucosa, and may represent a pharmacological tool for prevention and healing of gastrointestinal ulcerations. In breast cancer, it can be used to select patients suitable for hormone therapy. pS2/TFF1 is a pleiotropic factor involved in mucin polymerization, cell motility, cell proliferation and/or differentiation, and possibly in the nervous system.