Open AccessRecklessness as a hallmark of aggressive cancer
Author(s) -
Noda Makoto,
Takahashi Chiaki
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00588.x
Subject(s) - matrix metalloproteinase , angiogenesis , metastasis , regulator , cancer , cancer research , downregulation and upregulation , medicine , reversion , disease , bioinformatics , biology , genetics , gene , phenotype
Cancer recurrence after surgical treatment is a major concern for patients and doctors. Understanding what makes tumors prone to recurrence would be an important step toward its prevention. Accumulating evidence indicates that the level of membrane‐associated protease regulator reversion‐inducing cysteine‐rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) expressed in tumor tissue is a good prognostic indicator in several common cancers. Certain members of the matrix metalloproteinase family are often upregulated in advanced cancers and are known to play important roles in tumor angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. RECK negatively regulates several matrix metalloproteinases. Therefore, RECK itself may well be considered a promising tool or target molecule to be activated in cancer therapy. Here we review the recent advances in RECK research and discuss some of the important issues to be addressed in future studies. ( Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1659–1665)