Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2025
An Immunofluorescent Method for Characterization of Barrett’s Esophagus Cells
Published on: July 20, 2014
Role of EGFL7 in human cancers: A review
Cristiane de Oliveira1,2, Paola Gyuliane Gonçalves1,2, Lucas Tadeu Bidinotto1,2,3
1Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract:
EGFL7 is a proangiogenic factor. It has been widely described with having a vital role in tubulogenesis and regulation of angiogenesis, mainly during embryogenesis and organogenesis. It has been mainly associated with NOTCH pathway, but there are reports showing association with MAPK and integrin pathways. Given its association with angiogenesis and these other pathways, there are several studies associating EGFL7 with carcinogenesis. In fact, most of the studies have pointed to EGFL7 as an oncogene, and some of them suggest EGFL7 expression as a possible biomarker of prognosis or use for a patient's follow-up. Here, we review the molecular pathways which EGFL7 is associated and highlight several studies describing the role of EGFL7 in tumorigenesis, separated by tumor type. Besides its role on angiogenesis, EGFL7 may act in other pathways as oncogene, which makes it a possible biomarker and a candidate to targeted therapy.
Related Concept Videos
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
01:22Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...