Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Potential of Circulating Tumor Cells in Leptomeningeal Disease Research
Published on: March 29, 2024
EGFL7 is an intercellular EGFR signal messenger that plays an oncogenic role in glioma
Fei-Yi-Fan Wang1, Chun-Sheng Kang2, Si-Yi Wang-Gou1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Abstract:
Epidermal Growth Factor like domain 7 (EGFL7), also known as Vascular Endothelial-statin (VE-statin), is a secreted angiogenic factor. Recent data have demonstrated the potential oncogenic role and prognostic significance of EGFL7 in several human cancers. However, the clinical signature and further mechanisms of EGFL7's function in gliomagenesis are poorly understood. In the present study, we found that increased EGFL7 expression was associated with tumor grade. High expression of EGFL7 in EGFRvIII-positive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) was determined to be a strong and independent risk factor for reduced life expectancy. EGFRvIII cells can secrete the EGFL7 protein to improve the activity of the β-catenin/TCF4 Transcription complex in EGFRwt cells, thus promoting their own EGFL7 expression. Our research demonstrates that oncogenic activation of EGFRwt in GBM is likely maintained by a continuous EGFL7 autocrine flow line, and may be an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.
Related Concept Videos
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Autocrine Signaling
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...

