TEAD proteins are transcription factors that are crucial for development, but 
also play a role in cancers. Several developmentally and pathologically 
important genes are upregulated by TEADs. TEADs have a TEA domain that enables 
them to bind specific DNA elements and a transactivation domain that enables 
them to interact with coactivators. TEADs on their own are unable to activate 
transcription and they require the help of coactivators. Several 
TEAD-interacting coactivators are known and they can be classified into three 
groups: (1) YAP and its paralog TAZ; (2) Vgll proteins; and (3) p160s. 
Accordingly, these coactivators also play a role in development and cancers. 
Recent studies have shown that TEADs and their coactivators aid in the 
progression of various cancers, including the difficult to treat glioblastoma, 
liver and ovarian cancers. They facilitate cancer progression through expression 
of proliferation promoting genes such as c-myc, survivin, Axl, CTGF and Cyr61. 
There is also a good correlation between high TEAD or its coactivator expression 
and poor prognosis in various cancers. Given the fact that TEADs and their 
coactivators need to work together for a functional outcome, disrupting the 
interaction between them appears to be a viable option for cancer therapy. 
Structures of TEAD-coactivator complexes have been elucidated and will 
facilitate drug design and development.