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Updated: Oct 17, 2025

In vitro Organoid Culture of Primary Mouse Colon Tumors
Published on: May 17, 2013
Involvement of integrin-activating peptides derived from tenascin-C in colon cancer progression
Motomichi Fujita1, Hideo Suzuki2, Fumio Fukai3
1Department of Molecular Patho-Physiology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-8510, Chiba, Japan.
Abstract:
Tenascin-C (TNC) is an adhesion modulatory protein present in the extracellular matrix that is highly expressed in several malignancies, including colon cancer. Although TNC is considered a negative prognostic factor for cancer patients, the substantial role of the TNC molecule in colorectal carcinogenesis and its malignant progression is poorly understood. We previously found that TNC has a cryptic functional site and that a TNC peptide containing this site, termed TNIIIA2, can potently and persistently activate beta1-integrins. In contrast, the peptide FNIII14, which contains a cryptic bioactive site within the fibronectin molecule, can inactivate beta1-integrins. This review presents the role of TNC in the development of colitis-associated colorectal cancer and in the malignant progression of colon cancer, particularly the major involvement of its cryptic functional site TNIIIA2. We propose new possible prophylactic and therapeutic strategies based on inhibition of the TNIIIA2-induced beta1-integrin activation by peptide FNIII14.
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