Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Targeted and Selective Treatment of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Teratomas Using External Beam Radiation in a Small-animal Model
Published on: February 17, 2019
SPARC in Tumor Pathophysiology and as a Potential Therapeutic Target
1Key Laboratory of Biorheological Sicience and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. tangliling@cqu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Cell migration and metastasis greatly contribute to the progression of tumors. Secreted Protein and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC), as a multi-faceted protein, is highly expressed in highly metastatic tumors while low or undetectable in less metastatic types with aberrant promoter methylation. In highly metastatic tumors, such as glioblastomas, melanoma, breast cancer and prostate cancer, SPARC promotes bone metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In contrast, this protein acts as an anti-tumor factor in anti-angiogenesis, pro-apoptosis, cell proliferation inhibition and cell cycle arrest in less metastatic tumors, such as neuroblastoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and gastric cancer. Here, we summarize and analyze the paradoxical role of SPARC in different tumors. We believe that further studies on truncated, alternative splicing variants and signal peptide of SPARC are required to elucidate the distinct effects. Most notably, SPARC variants probably play a crucial role in regulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) induced EMT. This review also provides strategies to target or use SPARC (full-length, truncated and splicing variants) for therapeutic purposes.
More Related Videos
07:48Utilizing Functional Genomics Screening to Identify Potentially Novel Drug Targets in Cancer Cell Spheroid Cultures
Published on: December 26, 2016
09:29Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
Published on: September 30, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Abnormal Proliferation
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Tumor Immunotherapy
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...