[Semaphorins and cancers : an up 'dating'].
Semaphorins, first described as axon guidance molecules, play an essential role in neural development, angiogenesis and immunological response. In 1996, two semaphorin genes, SEMA3B and SEMA3F, were isolated from chromosomal region 3p21.3 believed to contain a tumor suppressor gene based on frequent loss of heterozygosity in lung and breast cancer. Since these first studies, several semaphorins have been involved in tumor progression. Some semaphorins have been proposed to have pro-tumoral properties, whereas others have been shown to have tumor suppressive activity. This review summarizes the most recent data implicating semaphorins in cancers.
CNRS-UMR 6187, Institut de physiologie et de biologie cellulaires, Faculté des sciences de Poitiers, France.
Patrick
P
Nasarre
Bruno
B
Constantin
Harry A
HA
Drabkin
Joëlle
J
Roche
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D002273:Carcinogens; D039961:Semaphorins