title: Is YKL-40 a new therapeutic target in cancer?
abstract: YKL-40 is produced by cancer cells and tumour-associated macrophages. YKL-40 may play a role in cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, invasiveness, metastasis, in angiogenesis and the inflammation and remodelling of the extracellular matrix surrounding the tumour. Serum YKL-40 is a biomarker of prognosis, confirmed in 13 different types of cancer including > 2500 patients. Highest serum YKL-40 is found in patients with metastatic cancer with the shortest recurrence-free interval and shortest overall survival. Serum YKL-40 provides independent information compared with clinical characteristics and biomarkers, such as HER2, carcinoembryonic antigen, CA-125, prostate-specific antigen and lactate dehydrogenase. The authors hypothesise that inhibition of YKL-40 by monoclonal antibodies either directly or towards its receptor may be as efficient a cancer therapeutic as the monoclonal antibodies against HER2, HER1, vascular endothelial growth factor and CD20. Drugs inhibiting YKL-40 should be explored as new cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Department of Rheumatology Q107, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark. julia.johansen@post3.tele.dk
authors.forename: Julia S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Benny Vittrup
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roslind
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins