骨桥蛋白与肿瘤转移

转移是肿瘤恶化的主要标志.骨桥蛋白被称为"肿瘤转移基因",是一种分泌型、粘附性的糖基化磷蛋白,与其主要受体整合素和CD44相互作用,参与多种器官和组织的生理病理过程,具有多种功能.近来的很多研究揭示,骨桥蛋白在肿瘤细胞的粘附、浸润、迁移及新血管生成过程中起关键作用. 骨桥蛋白在血清中的含量高低与病人的肿瘤转移情况及预后密切相关.很多研究认为,骨桥蛋白是一个很好的肿瘤转移标志物,是诊断与治疗肿瘤转移的新靶点.本文就骨桥蛋白的一般生物学特点及其在肿瘤转移过程中所起的作用和主要机制进行综述.

Osteopontin and Tumor Metastasis

Metastasis is the key indicator of tumor malignancy. Osteopontin(OPN), known as a tumor metastasis gene, encodes an adhesive secretory glycosylated phosphoprotein that interacts with integrins and CD44 as primary receptors. OPN has multiple functiobs in a variety of tissues and is involved in both normal physiological cellular processes and pathological conditions. Recent studies have revealed that OPN plays critical roles in tumor cell adhesion, migration, invasion and angiogenesis. An elevated level of plasma OPN is significantly associated with cancer invasive phenotypes and has significant impact on tumor development and patient survival rate. Many researchers believe that OPN is likely to be a novel target for tumor molecular diagnosis and prognosis,as well as for cancer therapy. This review focuses on the recent advances in the understanding of the osteopontin functions and the molecular mechanisms in cancer metastasis.