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Updated: Oct 31, 2025
06:35
A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth
Published on: December 22, 2020
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Cancer-associated Fibroblast-derived Spondin-2 Promotes Motility of Gastric Cancer Cells
Shotaro Kuramitsu1, Takaaki Masuda1, Qingjiang Hu1,2
1Department of Surgery, Kyushu University Beppu Hospital, Beppu, Japan.
Cancer Genomics & Proteomics
|June 29, 2021
Summary
Spondin-2 (SPON2), secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts, promotes gastric cancer (GC) peritoneal dissemination (PD) by increasing tumor cell motility. High SPON2 expression predicts poor prognosis and PD in GC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Molecular Oncology
Background:
- Peritoneal dissemination (PD) is a frequent and fatal complication of gastric cancer (GC).
- Tumor-stromal cell interactions are crucial for GC progression and metastasis.
- Identifying novel genes involved in PD from stromal cells is critical for understanding GC pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a novel gene associated with peritoneal dissemination (PD) in gastric cancer (GC).
- To investigate the role of spondin-2 (SPON2), an extracellular matrix protein, in GC PD.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of SPON2 mRNA expression in GC datasets.
- Immunohistochemistry to assess SPON2 localization.
- In vitro migration assays and immunofluorescence staining of GC cell lines.
Main Results:
- SPON2 is expressed and secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts in GC.
- High SPON2 expression correlates with PD, larger tumor size, and poorer prognosis in GC.
- SPON2 recombinant protein enhances GC cell motility in vitro.
Conclusions:
- Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived SPON2 promotes GC peritoneal dissemination by enhancing tumor cell motility.
- SPON2 may serve as a predictive biomarker for PD in gastric cancer.
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