title: Thrombospondin-1 and cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thrombospondins (TSPs) are recognized as important glycoproteins that regulate a wide variety of cell functions and interactions. TSPs in malignant tumors can both enhance and inhibit tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis, depending on cell type, stromal interactions, and microenvironment. These proteins are potential targets for anticancer therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our article is to review the role of thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) in cutaneous melanoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TSP1 expression is variable in melanoma cell lines and tumors. Similar to findings in other human cancers, expression of TSP1 by melanoma cells usually inhibits tumor progression via the antiangiogenic effect of TSP1. Conversely, stromal TSP1 overexpression in melanoma is a poor prognostic factor associated with decreased survival. Understanding the interactions of TSP1 with other melanoma- and matrix-associated proteins should provide new prognostic indices and possible therapeutic targets for melanoma treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary Laboratory Services, Alberta, Canada. martin.trotter@cls.ab.ca
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Trotter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colwell
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Tron
mesh_terms: D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009154:Mutation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D019700:Thrombospondin 1; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator