Recklessness as a hallmark of aggressive cancer

• Published in: Cancer science Vol. 98; no. 11; pp. 1659 - 1665
• Main Authors: Noda, Makoto, Takahashi, Chiaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.11.2007; Blackwell
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Female; GPI-Linked Proteins; Humans; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinases - physiology; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins - physiology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasms - surgery; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Review; Tumors; Cancerology; Malignant tumor; High malignancy; Cancer
• ISSN: 1347-9032; 1349-7006; 1349-7006
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00588.x

Cancer recurrence after surgical treatment is a major concern for patients and doctors. Understanding what makes tumors prone to recurrence would be an important step toward its prevention. Accumulating evidence indicates that the level of membrane‐associated protease regulator reversion‐inducing cysteine‐rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) expressed in tumor tissue is a good prognostic indicator in several common cancers. Certain members of the matrix metalloproteinase family are often upregulated in advanced cancers and are known to play important roles in tumor angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. RECK negatively regulates several matrix metalloproteinases. Therefore, RECK itself may well be considered a promising tool or target molecule to be activated in cancer therapy. Here we review the recent advances in RECK research and discuss some of the important issues to be addressed in future studies. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1659–1665)