FAK

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase that plays a central role in cellular processes related to adhesion and motility. Located primarily at focal adhesions—points where cells attach to the extracellular matrix—FAK is activated by integrin clustering and mechanical stress. Upon activation, FAK phosphorylates and recruits various signaling proteins, facilitating pathways that promote cell survival, proliferation, migration, and invasion. This makes FAK crucial for wound healing, immune responses, and embryonic development. However, overexpression and hyperactivation of FAK are commonly observed in various cancers, where it contributes to tumor progression and metastasis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in oncology to inhibit cancer spread and growth.