INVESTIGADORES
PODHAJCER Osvaldo Luis
artículos
Título:
The role of the matricellular protein SPARC in the dynamic interaction between the tumor and the host
Autor/es:
PODHAJCER OL; BENEDETTI L; GIROTTI MR; PRADA F; SALVATIERRA E; LLERA AS
Revista:
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Año: 2008 vol. 27 p. 523 - 537
ISSN:
0167-7659
Resumen:
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