The role of the matricellular protein SPARC in the dynamic interaction between the tumor and the host

Tumor growth is essentially the result of an evolving cross-talk between malignant and surrounding stromal cells (fibroblasts, endothelial cells and inflammatory cells). This heterogeneous mass of extracellular matrix and intermingled cells interact through cell–cell and cell–matrix contacts. Malign...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inCancer and metastasis reviews Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 691 - 705
Main Authors Podhajcer, Osvaldo L., Benedetti, Lorena Gabriela, Girotti, Maria Romina, Prada, Federico, Salvatierra, Edgardo, Llera, Andrea S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Boston Springer US 01.12.2008
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cancer Research
Disease Progression
Humans
Neoplasms - metabolism
Non-Thematic Review
Oncology
Osteonectin - metabolism
Signal Transduction - physiology
Angiogenesis
Extracellular matrix
SPARC
EMT
Cancer
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Tumor growth is essentially the result of an evolving cross-talk between malignant and surrounding stromal cells (fibroblasts, endothelial cells and inflammatory cells). This heterogeneous mass of extracellular matrix and intermingled cells interact through cell–cell and cell–matrix contacts. Malignant cells also secrete soluble proteins that reach neighbor stromal cells, forcing them to provide the soil on which they will grow and metastasize. Different studies including expression array analysis identified the matricellular protein SPARC as a marker of poor prognosis in different cancer types. Further evidence demonstrated that high SPARC levels are often associated with the most aggressive and highly metastatic tumors. Here we describe the most recent evidence that links SPARC with human cancer progression, the controversy regarding its role in certain human cancers and the physiological processes in which SPARC is involved: epithelial–mesenchymal transition, immune surveillance and angiogenesis. Its relevance as a potential target in cancer therapy is also discussed.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
ObjectType-Article-2
ObjectType-Feature-1
ObjectType-Review-3
content type line 23
ObjectType-Feature-3
ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:0167-7659
1573-7233
DOI:10.1007/s10555-008-9146-7