Caveolin-1: a tumor-promoting role in human cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Caveolae are non-clathrin, flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane. Caveolin-1 is an essential constituent of caveolae and as such acts as a regulator of caveolae-dependent lipid trafficking and endocytosis. Caveolin-1 interacts with a variety of cellular proteins and regulates cell-signaling events. Caveolin-1 appears to act as a tumor suppressor protein at early stages of cancer progression. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that caveolin-1 is up-regulated in several multidrug-resistant and metastatic cancer cell lines and human tumor specimens. Furthermore, caveolin-1 levels are positively correlated with tumor stage and grade in numerous cancer types.


CONCLUSIONS
The available experimental data support the tumor-promoting role of caveolin-1 in advanced-stage cancer.
Shatz
Maria
M
Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
Liscovitch
Mordechai
M
D021941:Caveolae / Q000502:physiology*; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology
D051242:Caveolin 1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins